Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Makers Finalise Dayaben; Mock Shoots Underway After Successful Audition | Exclusive
Disha Vakani, who played the iconic character in Asit Modi’s show, went on maternity leave in 2018 and has not returned since.

Dayaben has been missing from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah for years now. Disha Vakani, who played the iconic character in Asit Modi’s show, went on maternity leave in 2018 and has not returned since. Just a few months ago, Asit Modi exclusively confirmed to News18 Showsha that Disha would not be returning to the popular sitcom. Now, we have learned that the hunt for Dayaben is almost over.
An insider has exclusively told us that Asit Modi, who had been conducting auditions for the character of Dayaben, has finally liked someone. We have learned that an actor, whose identity has not been revealed yet, has been shortlisted for the role of Daya, Tappu Ke Papa’s Gaga. Not just this, the team is currently holding mock shoots with her.
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“Yes, it is right. Asit ji had been looking for a new Dayaben, and recently, one of the auditions impressed him a lot. Mock shoots with the actress are underway. It’s been around a week that she has been here, shooting with us," the source said.
We tried reaching out to Asit Modi’s team, but he remained unavailable for comment.
In January this year, in an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Asit Modi confirmed that Disha Vakani might not return to the show. He revealed that she is currently busy with both her children. “I am still trying. I believe Disha Vakani can’t be back. She has two children. She is like my sister. Even today, we have a very close relationship with her family. My sister Disha Vakani has tied a Rakhi to me. Her father and brother are also family to me. You work together for 17 years, and it becomes your extended family," he said.
“It is difficult for her now (to return to the show). For women, life changes after marriage. Working with small children and managing the house is really a bit difficult for them. But I am still positive. I feel somewhere that God will do some miracle, and she will return. If she comes, then it will be a good thing. If for some reason she does not come, then I will have to bring another Dayaben for the show," the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah creator added.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has been running successfully for 16 years now. The show has been doing extremely well, and has also been able to maintain its spot on the TRP charts. Even though Dayaben is absent from TMKOC, Asit Modi’s show has managed to adapt to changing times with a fresh perspective. The show is no longer centered around a single character; instead, it delves deeper into the lives and challenges of multiple residents of Gokuldham Society. Therefore, with Dayaben’s comeback, it would be interesting to see, how the tracks of the show will flow.
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