Dilip Joshi Shares Why TMKOC’s Iconic ‘Aye Pagal Aurat’ Dialogue Was Dropped
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC) has been a staple of Indian television for over 17 years, delivering countless memorable moments and iconic dialogues.

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC) has been a staple of Indian television for over 17 years, delivering countless memorable moments and iconic dialogues. One such phrase, “Aye Pagal Aurat,” often used by Dilip Joshi’s character Jethalal, became a fan favourite but was later discontinued. In a recent podcast with Sorabh Pant, the actor finally shared why the dialogue was banned from the show.
'Pagal Aurat' dialogue was not in script
Dilip Joshi shared that the line was not originally scripted but came out spontaneously during a scene. Reflecting on its origin, he explained, “On set, I improvised the ‘paagal aurat’ phrase based on how Daya (Disha Vakani) reacted. There was a scenario on set, and the way Dayaben reacted, it fell out of my mouth during the filming of the scene.” However, despite its popularity, the dialogue was later removed due to backlash.
Why 'Pagal Aurat' dialogue was removed
Joshi further revealed, “Baad mein, uspe kuch women’s lib ya koi movement tha, mujhe bataya gaya, ‘Aage se, aap yeh nahi bolenge’ (Later, there was some women’s liberation movement or something, and I was told never to say it again).” Although the phrase was intended to add humour to the show, many viewers found it problematic, leading to complaints that prompted the makers to eliminate it.
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In recent years, several actors have exited the show, citing issues such as unpaid dues. Despite these challenges, the sitcom continues to be a household favorite, featuring an ensemble cast including Dilip Joshi, Mandar Chandwadkar, Amit Bhatt, Sonalika Joshi, Munmun Dutta, Samay Shah, and Shyam Pathak, among others.
























