Exclusive - Aradhana Sharma on how Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah changed her life: The show brought a boom to my career

Reality show fame Aradhana Sharma, who was last seen in popular sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, speaks to ETimes TV about all the fame and love she has been receiving. Aradhana played the role of Deepti, a negative role in the show and it was a small yet memorable cameo. In a candid conversation, Aradhana opens up about how this show has been the best decision of her life, work experience with senior actors like Dilip Joshi aka Jethalal and a lot more.

Honestly, I just can't trust yet. My entry in the industry happened in 2020. In just 1 and half years I feel like I have achieved a few things…not many… but a few. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah brought a boom to my career. I have received so much love. People see me and scream, ‘Arre Deepti, cash hai toh aish hai’. When you are known by your character name, it’s a blessing. It’s a small step towards an achievement.

I would keep sending out my audition tapes to the casting directors. It was very random. I had asked one of them, Vikas ji, to give me some suitable work. He had promised to give me a good role. He liked my acting. And this was 5 months back. He called me during lockdown saying there’s a casting happening in Taarak. I think saying yes to it was the best decision of my life.

Dilip sir's aura is very different. On my first day, I met him later as his shot was on. People were just laughing seeing him enact… they were laughing out loud and trying to control it. There is magic in his acting. And no one sits idle in front of him. He will keep improvising his scenes or help his co-actors. I will share an incident for instance. I had a scene with him where I had to fake an act. And Sir is very particular about reading sessions. He takes around one and half to two hours to read the script so that everything goes on smoothly. During our reading session, I was very nervous and was shivering. He kept motivating me and kept telling me to smile. He takes note of the smallest thing and helps you improve. He has brought a lot of improvement in me. Because of him, now when I go for auditions, if I am going wrong, I immediately refer to what Sir had said and correct myself. He is a perfectionist and very particular about time. If he comes to the sets on time being a senior artist, then why shouldn’t why.

Nirmal bhai (Soni), who plays Dr. Hathi, is very friendly. I share a different bond with him. We have become friends. Everyone calls us reel partners. (laughs) I had a lot of fun. Very sweet guy.

Popatlal (Shyam Pathak) is completely opposite of how he is on-screen. He is a complete gentleman and talks with a lot of respect. And Champak chacha (Amit Bhatt) is so lively in person. Bahut khush mizaaj hai woh. He always stays happy and greets everyone. All the actors are very different from how we see them on-screen. They have been there for so many years. They all are very natural.

Let me tell you very frankly, right now, I have a lot of fans, who are in the 6-7-year-old bracket. Though they keep asking me about my phone number, but the response I receive from them is just overwhelming. Kids call me ‘Deepti didi’, I just love it. I have gotten a lot of respect doing this show. That’s a big thing for me. This show is watched by the entire nation. In fact, someone from the crew told me, ‘Yeh show job hi karta, who aadmi kuch na kuch karta hi hai life me’ (Whoever comes to this show, he/she does something good in life). Hopefully, something good happens in my life. The entire cast of Taarak is very good. They are very ‘pyaari’. They never treated me as a newcomer.

I wanted to do Roadies and was never interested in Splitsvilla. But this reality show was my destiny. Splitsvilla acted as a platform. But many people saw it in a negative way saying reality show contestants can’t act. There’s a stereotype. Initially, I faced a lot of difficulties and then I got Aladdin Naam Toh Suna Hoga. I did a brief cameo in Hero Gayab Mode On and then Taarak. So yes, it’s been a good run so far.