Shailesh Lodha On Quitting Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: 'Producer Can't Be Bigger Than The Actor'

Television actor Shailesh Lodha hinted at differences between him and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's producer, Asit Modi. 

Sachin Shroff has replaced Shailesh Lodha in the show.     

Source : Instagram

New Delhi: Television actor Shailesh Lodha quit the popular show 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' in April 2022, leaving fans of the show disappointed. Though the actor never said anything directly, his Instagram posts and interview hinted that all was not well between the makers and him. Recently at an event, the actor hinted at differences between him and the show's producer, Asit Modi. 

Speaking at an event hosted by Aaj Tak, the actor said, “In this country, publishers wear a diamond ring, and a writer, who wants to get his book published, has to shell out money. If people, who earn from the talent of other people, start considering themselves over and above the talented people, then a talented person should raise their voices. Maybe I am one of those talented people who has raised his voice.” 

He continued, "Those who earn popularity due to an artist's work cannot be bigger than the artist. Any publisher in the world cannot be bigger than the writer. Any producer cannot be bigger than the actor. He is a businessman. If any businessman tries to overpower the actor or poet in me, I will strongly condemn it."

Earlier, in an interview with Siddharth Kannan, when asked about his reason for quitting, Shailesh recited lines by Bashir Badr. “Kuch toh majbooriyan rahi hongi, yun hi koi bevafa nahi hota (There must be some reason, people don’t leave without reason.) It’s not like I won’t reveal why I left the show. I will say but only at the right time,” he said in the interview.    

There were also reports that the actors' dues, approximately a six-figure amount from over a year, are yet to be cleared by the makers. The makers later dismissed the claim and said the dues were not cleared as Lodha hadn’t completed his formalities.   

“Despite repeated communication to sign all dues document and collect his pending payment, Shailesh Lodha has refused to do it. When you leave any company or show, there is always a procedure that needs to be followed and fulfilled. Every artiste, staff or technicians needs to do these formalities. No company will release the payment before completing the formalities,” Suhel Ramani, project head of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, had said in a statement. 

Sachin Shroff has replaced Shailesh Lodha in the show.     

First aired on July 28, 2008, 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' is one of the popular sitcoms that deals with societal issues.