‘Disappointing, verify before publishing’: Dilip Joshi confirms he is not quitting TMKOC, calls out media houses over fake reports

One of Indian television’s longest-running and most popular shows, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, revolves around the residents of Gokuldham Society. The ensemble cast includes Dilip Joshi, Nirmal Soni, Munmun Dutta, Amit Bhatt, Sunayana Fozdar, Sachin Shroff, Mandar Chandwadkar and Sonalika Joshi.

Several reports recently suggested that Dilip Joshi, who has been a part of the show for over 18 years and plays the iconic character Jethalal Gada, might be leaving the show. It was widely reported that he would exit as the sitcom was allegedly set to introduce a new set of members in Gokuldham Society.

As these rumours spread across social media, fans were left shocked. On Friday, however, Dilip Joshi put an end to the speculation surrounding his future on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.

Addressing the reports, the actor criticised the growing trend of publishing unverified stories for online engagement. Speaking to media persons, he said, “For some people, social media has become a source of income. To grab eyeballs and increase views, they publish all kinds of stories without thinking twice. But what is truly disappointing is when reputed media houses publish such reports without cross-checking or verifying the facts.”

The actor further appealed to news organisations to verify information before reporting it. He said, “We may not be able to stop social media pages, but I would request our respected media organisations to confirm the information with the production house or the celebrity before publishing it.”

This is not the first time the popular sitcom has been surrounded by exit speculation. A few months ago, actress Ambika Ranjankar, who plays Komal Hathi, also faced similar rumours after she was missing from a few episodes. Responding to the reports, she had clarified, “No, I haven’t quit the show. I am very much a part of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Well, for some personal reasons, I was away. I needed some time for myself.”