Exclusive - Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Mandar Chandwadkar on 'Bhootni' track and show ranking No. 1 on TRP charts; says 'Audiences love to see Gokuldhamwasis in trouble'

The latest Bhootni track in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is receiving a great response from viewers. Thanks to the popularity of this storyline, the show has been consistently topping the TRP charts for the past few weeks. Mandar Chandwadkar, who plays the beloved character Atmaram Tukaram Bhide in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, recently joined Times of India TV for an exclusive chat During the interview, he spoke about the overwhelming success of the ongoing Bhootni track, the show's consistent number 1 position on the TRP charts, and much more. (Photo: Instagram)

We feel truly proud that even after 17 years, we continue to receive immense love from fans. They shower the same love that they gave in the beginning. The show is still doing well in terms of TRPs, and that’s a big achievement. As we complete 17 years and step into the 18th, I want to congratulate the entire team on this incredible milestone. Over the years, many people have come and gone, but this show has always held its ground. The biggest reason behind that is our producer, Asit Kumarr Modi. He still sits with the writers every day, working closely on each story and every character.(Photo: Instagram)

Anyone else might have put the show on auto-pilot after such success, but he continues to be deeply involved in every detail to keep improving the show. It’s easy to achieve success, but maintaining it for so long is a much bigger challenge and Asit ji has done exactly that. What makes us happiest is that the show has been watched across generations. The kids who once watched it are now grown up and watching it with their own children. That kind of connection makes us incredibly happy and proud.(Photo: Instagram)

Audiences love to see Gokuldhamwasis in trouble. The reaction to the Bhootni track is awesome. The fans of the show are making reels and memes, they recently posted my dance with funny music and it became quite a hit. With social media we get instant reaction about the sequence from the viewers. TMKOC enjoys such a massive fan base and the viewers keep looking forward to different episodes. (Photo: Instagram)

We are having a blast shooting for the sequence as we are shooting the Bhootni track outdoors. Iss baar bhootni Gokuldham mein nahi aayi hai, Gokuldham waale bhootni ke paas gaye hain. Obviously, outdoor shoots are always fun because we mostly shoot on our set but when we shoot outdoors we get time to relax together. The energy is different and we are thoroughly enjoying the track. (Photo: Instagram)

The storyline is becoming more exciting as my character discovers that Popatlal has fallen for Bhootni. We're building up to a major twist in the climax, and things are getting funnier with each episode. What makes this track unique is that, for the first time, there's just one girl, but two completely different perspectives about her and that’s where the comedy and confusion really take off. (Photo: Instagram)

I’m not sure why, but we’re constantly compared to our own past work. I think we’re probably the only actors who get compared to ourselves! Running a show for 17 years is no small feat. These days, when people watch our older episodes, they often compare them with what we’re doing now, but it’s not the same. The jokes, situations, and context were very different back then, and it’s not possible to recreate that exactly today. (Photo: Instagram)

Over time, both the characters and the audience have evolved. After 17 years, Bhide and Jethalal have grown too. The kind of humour that worked back then was suited to the viewers of that time, many of whom were kids. Those kids have now grown up, and naturally, our humour has also adapted with time. Comparisons are bound to happen, but we consciously avoid repeating storylines or tracks. Our focus is always on bringing something fresh and new to the audience. (Photo: Instagram)