'My back hurts': Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's Bagha aka Tanmay Vekaria reveals the price of playing the beloved role

For millions of fans, Bagha is one of the funniest characters in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. But behind the laughter, actor Tanmay Vekaria has been silently dealing with a painful reality.

The actor recently revealed that years of playing Bagha's signature body language have left him with persistent back pain.

Speaking to TellyChakkar, Tanmay said, "After playing this role for so many years, my back hurts even when I stand straight. But I still love playing Bagha. Once I become the character, I don't think about the pain or the movements I have to do. I just enjoy every moment. I come to the set happy, and there is always a fun atmosphere. I think that's why we have been able to give viewers new and entertaining episodes."


The revelation comes during an emotionally difficult phase for the actor. On July 8, Tanmay shared a heartfelt tribute to his late father, veteran Gujarati actor, director and theatre personality Arvind Vekaria, who passed away on June 24. Sharing a montage of cherished moments with his father, Tanmay wrote, "A loving father, a caring husband, my only teacher and a pure soul, keep showering ur blessings from the best place where u are, shall always love u and miss u dear papa."

The actor has also been coping with the loss of his mother. Reports say Tanmay broke down on the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah set while remembering her during a shoot. Filming was briefly halted as the emotional moment unfolded. His mother was one of his biggest supporters and loved watching him play Bagha, making the loss even more difficult as his current storyline continues to receive appreciation from viewers.

Tanmay also recalled how Bagha changed his career. During a podcast, he revealed that he initially appeared in several cameo roles on the sitcom before landing the fan-favourite character.

"I reached out to the show's creative director looking for work and was offered a small role as a police inspector in a three-day track. I had already appeared in a few cameo roles on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. While waiting near the lift on set, I met Sohil Bhai, who asked about the role I was doing and suggested that I should not take it. Instead, he introduced me to the character of Bagha and asked me to audition for it. I gave the audition and was selected. Since Dilip Joshi and I had worked together in theatre earlier, we already shared a good rapport, which helped create a natural chemistry on screen," he said.

Today, despite the physical pain and personal loss, Tanmay continues to entertain audiences as Bagha—one of the most loved characters on Indian television.