Popular television actress Disha Vakani, who became a household name with her role of Daya Ben in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, is set to be replaced.
The creator and producer of the show Asit Kumar Modi on Wednesday confirmed that they have now started auditioning actors for Daya’s role, after waiting for Disha for almost two years.
In a statement to an Indian newspaper, Asit said:
“There are women who take maternity breaks and then resume work.
We have given Disha leave and now we cannot wait more so will have to start looking for a new Dayaben.
We will have to replace her, for the audience who have waiting for Daya’s return. And as it’s said, the show must go on.”
“I will have to start looking for a new Dayaben. No one is bigger than the show.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah will go on with a new face because the family is incomplete without Dayaben,” Modi told an Indian daily.
“…Replacing an actress is not an overnight process.
The track has to be planned months in advance. Right now, we have started the initial process of auditioning for the character.
We are still not sure what will happen in the future, but I would like to reiterate that the show must go on,” he further added.
Disha Vakani, who tied the knot with Mumbai-based chartered accountant Mayur Padia in November 2015, took a break from the serial in 2017 after delivering a baby girl in November.
Her character Daya Ben was shown to have gone to her maternal home, then. Despite several notices, Disha didn’t return to the show.
The actress had earlier shot through her pregnancy.
Speculations have been rife that Disha’s husband wasn’t keen on her getting back to work.
He had reportedly demanded a huge amount from the producers for her comeback. The couple even wanted her shift timings to be adjusted.
The producers had reportedly decided to give Disha a 30-day grace period to revert back and since she chose not to, the makers were left with no other option but to move on.
One looks forward to seeing which actor gets selected for the iconic role.
