Exclusive - Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's Daya Shankar Pandey reveals how he bagged the role of Inspector Chalu Pandey; says 'TMKOC mere jeevan ka ek bahut hi zaruri ang hai'
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
, one of the most beloved and longest-running sitcoms on Indian television, has been entertaining viewers of all ages for 17 years. Over time, each character from the show has gained a loyal fanbase, and one such fan-favourite is seasoned actor
Daya Shankar Pandey
. He became widely recognized for his portrayal of
Inspector Chalu Pandey
, a role that turned out to be a turning point in his career and won him immense love from the audience. In an exclusive conversation with Times of India TV, Daya Shankar shared how he landed the iconic role. He also opened up about his deep connection with the show's producer,
Asit Kumarr Modi
, revealing behind-the-scenes details and personal memories that many fans were unaware of.
Recalling the time when he was first offered the show, Daya Shankar Pandey shared, "Before I started playing Inspector
Chalu Pandey
in TMKOC, I was already connected to the show, but not in a big way. I wasn't really part of the creative team. I was just helping as a friend. Since Asit and I have known each other for a long time, I would share ideas with him. Sometimes he used them, sometimes he didn't. At the same time, I was working on the show Shanidev in Baroda.
Whenever I got free time, I would give some inputs for TMKOC. It was all going smoothly and in good spirit.
Then one day, Asit told me about a new character, Inspector Chalu Pandey, and he offered me the role. I wasn't sure at first. I was focused on Shanidev and didn't feel like switching. But Asit told me, 'An actor should not stick to just one kind of role. This will be something fresh for you.' So I finally agreed."
The Gangajal actor recalled the first day of his shooting, "I still remember our first shoot at Filmistan Studio.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Recommends: "These 5 Books Will Turn Your Life Around"
Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List
Undo
We had so much fun filming the scenes, haste khelte pura episode nikal diya humne. When the episode was edited and shown to us, everyone liked it, including Asit. When the episode aired, we got great feedback. That's when Asit told me that my character would now be a permanent part of the show. Since that day, it's been almost 11–12 years, and I'm still happily playing Inspector Chalu Pandey.
I enjoy it a lot."
For the uninitiated, Inspector Chalu Pandey made his first appearance in
Taarak Mehta
Ka Ooltah Chashmah back in 2010, during a storyline where characters like Jethalal, Sodhi, Iyer, and Nattu Kaka were mistakenly arrested for a car theft case.
TMKOC Controversy: What Asit Kumarr Modi Thinks About Palak Sindhwani Will Surprise You
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kim Kardashian backed off—Dating isn't coming easy for Tom Brady as insiders think he is still obsessed with with Gisele Bündchen
Tom Brady is reportedly struggling in the dating world (Getty Images) NFL legend Tom Brady might have conquered the football world, but his personal life seems to be stuck at the line of scrimmage. Nearly three years after his high-profile divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen, the 47-year-old seven-time Super Bowl champion is reportedly struggling to find lasting chemistry in the dating scene—and insiders claim it's largely his own doing. Obsessed with the past? Tom Brady's dates reportedly include rants about Gisele Bündchen and self-pity Despite Tom Brady's fame, fortune, and elite athlete looks, sources say his emotional baggage is pushing away even the most interested women. According to 'Word's getting around that Tom's a whiny, flaky man diva and not much fun to be around.' The report paints a picture of a man still caught up in the past, unable to move on from his former relationship. Women who have gone on dates with Brady, insiders claim, often come away unimpressed—not because he's not attractive or successful, but because the former quarterback can't stop talking about how miserable he is. 'He whines about his ex and it just puts off any potential partners,' one source told Radar. The emotional wallowing hasn't just affected his everyday dating prospects—it's allegedly soured potential flings with A-list celebrities too. Even Kim Kardashian, once rumored to be flirting with the idea of dating the NFL star, has supposedly backed off. 'Even Kim Kardashian has given up the idea of dating him because he's wallowing around,' the source noted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Gisele Bündchen has moved on—leaving Tom Brady seemingly stuck in limbo While Bündchen enjoys a reportedly fulfilling relationship with jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente and embraces a modern, blended family dynamic, Brady's romantic life has remained stagnant. Friends say his current behavior is only making things worse. 'When he is on dates, he just talks about himself and how miserable he is,' one insider added. 'That is never attractive to the opposite sex.' Even Brady's Met Gala appearance—an event where star power usually shines—did little to improve his image. Though surrounded by admirers, onlookers claimed he seemed distant and disengaged. One source summed it up bluntly: 'Unless he changes his strategy, he's never going to be able to get back in the game.' Whether Brady can bounce back emotionally the way he did on the field remains to be seen. Also Read: Tom Brady's ex-wife Gisele Bündchen's mental health comments ignited firestorm—critics say she promotes 'toxic wellness'
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Suniel Shetty meets Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in Dehradun
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 11 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty in Dehradun on Tuesday. The Uttarakhand CM took to his Instagram handle to share the details about his meeting with actor Suniel Shetty. While sharing pictures from the meeting, CM Dhami said that he had a discussion with Suniel Shetty about the state's film policy. In the photos, the two were seen discussing after they greeted each other with a handshake. While sharing the photos, CM Dhami wrote, "Met Bollywood actor Mr. @ in Dehradun. On this occasion, there was discussion with him regarding the film policy of the state." Meanwhile, Suniel Shetty was recently seen in the film 'Kesari Veer', which also starred Sooraj Pancholi and Vivek Oberoi in the lead roles. The film was bankrolled by the veteran producer Kanu Cauhan and was directed by Prince Dhiman. As per a press note, the 'Kesari Veer' delves "into the inspiring tale of unsung warriors who fought and sacrificed their lives to protect the Somnath Temple from invaders in the 14th century AD." Producer Kanu Chauhan shared that the project is a passion-driven effort, stemming from a deep personal connection and a desire to shed light on this lesser-known chapter of Indian history. Prince Dhiman described how the narrative moved him emotionally, sparking thorough research to ensure every detail reflects historical accuracy. In the coming months, Suniel will also be seen in various projects like 'The Legend of Somnath', 'Welcome to the Jungle', a show 'Nanda Devi' with Lionsgate, and 'Hunter 3'. (ANI)
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
First Indian rock band on America's Got Talent is from Northeast
Growing up in Sikkim's Gangtok on a steady diet of gritty tunes and razor-sharp riffs by pioneering hard rock icons like The Eagles and Guns N' Roses and local rock talent like CRAB and Still Waters, members of the four-piece Girish and The Chronicles never concerned themselves with conforming to India's mainstream music scene — one that is often dominated by film music and represented abroad through Indian classical music. The band, instead, for the last 16 years, doubled down on a sound that was unmistakably rooted in classic Western hard rock and metal. But even for a band which built its identity on a genre far away from typical national temper and trends, they never factored in America's Got Talent: one of the most popular TV shows in the world. Their breakout moment on the show's Season 20 last week: a roaring performance of Adele's 'Set fire to the rain' in the audition round knocked the socks off of the frenzied audience and judges — Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B — not expecting an Indian rock band to perform actual hard rock. Just as the band flung itself into the pop song with distorted guitars and Girish's unhinged voice, all four were stunned, followed by an enthusiastic standing ovation and a resounding entry into the next round. 'The whole experience was surreal… it was electrifying… something we'll never forget. Years of touring, dreaming, and staying true to our sound led up to that moment. We're just incredibly grateful to be part of something this big, and to share a piece of our journey with the world,' said frontman Girish Pradhan in an email conversation with The Indian Express. 'You come from the other side of the globe and do something so traditionally American.. It was so beautiful,' said Howie Mandel on the show. On Friday last week, hot on the heels of their now viral performance with 1.7 million views, the Bengaluru-based band — comprising vocalist Girish, guitarist Suraz Sun, bassist Yogesh Pradhan (also Girish's younger brother), and drummer Nagen Nags – with their long tresses cascading behind and goatees that harked back to the 90s, sang a set at the Capital's newly opened The Piano Man. As if plucked straight from the golden age of rock 'n' roll and planted in the cosy live music venue, the band had those present flipping out as frontman Girish's soaring vocals pierced through with the song 'Rock n roll is here to stay'. With limbs pounding, someone from the crowd screamed, 'AGT winners'. Girish obliged by crooning the performance from the show. 'The outpouring of love and support we have received from across the globe has been overwhelming in the best way possible. It's a reaffirmation of everything we've worked so hard for, and a reminder of how far we've come,' said Girish. It all started when a producer from America's Got Talent reached out to Girish via Instagram, after seeing a soundcheck video he had posted from a show at Independence Rock Festival in Mumbai. 'That conversation opened the door for us to pursue AGT, and the rest followed naturally,' says Girish, who identifies the global perception of Indian music, which is traditionally centred around classical genres and Bollywood. 'But as a band, we never set out to fit into that mould. Coming from Sikkim, we were already on the periphery of the mainstream spotlight – and in many ways, that gave us the freedom to chart our own course…We're not trying to redefine what it means to be Indian. We are simply sharing our story,' says Girish. Girish and his younger brother Yogesh are the sons of Bimla Pradhan, a well-known Nepali folk and classical singer, and football commentator Shyam Pradhan, who was deeply passionate about music, and also the band's first manager, mentor and financier. While the brothers grew up with the traditional sound of folk music at home, they were soon drawn to Northeast's deep connection with rock and metal.
