TMKOC's Kush Shah criticizes 'body positivity' movement; shares his personal struggle with being overweight

Kush Shah, popularly known for playing the beloved character Goli on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC), recently opened up about his departure from the show and his thoughts on personal health during a candid podcast appearance on Just Kidding with Sid. Shah spent 16 years on TMKOC, a sitcom that has become one of India’s longest-running and most-watched television shows. Reflecting on his time there, Shah shared that the exit was far from easy.

He compared leaving the show to ending a meaningful relationship, saying it felt like "breaking up on good terms." Though he never experienced a romantic breakup, he admitted to crying and feeling actual physical pain in his heart when he made the decision. TMKOC, which premiered in 2008 and is now a part of Indian pop culture history, had been more than just a job for him — it was, in his words, his “first love.”

Rejecting Body Positivity for Health Awareness

What stood out during the podcast was Shah’s stark views on the body positivity movement. Despite being overweight himself, he expressed strong opposition to the idea of accepting one’s body at the cost of health.

“I don’t believe in body positivity,” he stated clearly. He explained that if a medical professional advises someone to lose weight due to serious health risks, ignoring that advice in favor of body positivity is dangerous. Shah believes that lifestyle and physical well-being must take precedence over self-acceptance narratives when health is at risk. He recalled his own struggles with weight, noting how his breathing pattern had changed due to being overweight. He also admitted that he hasn't been able to clearly identify his own facial features, saying, “Main patla hounga toh pata chalega, main kaisa dikhta hoon.”

TMKOC: A Cultural Landmark

TMKOC, based on Tarak Mehta’s Gujarati column Duniya Ne Undha Chashma, has remained a staple of Indian television for more than a decade. The sitcom, produced by Asit Kumarr Modi, has seen remarkable milestones — completing 1000 episodes in 2012, 2000 in 2016, 3000 in 2020, and crossing 4000 episodes in 2024. Over time, it has not only entertained millions but also contributed to national campaigns like Clean India, and was once used as a case study by the Mudra Institute of Communications in Ahmedabad.

For Shah, being part of a show with such legacy has been a defining chapter of his life. But now, as he moves on, he seems focused on personal growth — emotionally and physically.