From controlling laughter while performing with Dilip Joshi to comparing his exit from TMKOC with breakup; Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's Kush Shah aka Goli recalls his journey

Kush Shah, widely recognized as former Goli from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, recently looked back on his time on the iconic sitcom. Recently, during an podcast with Just Kidding with Sid, Kush opened up about his 16 years journey on the show. From struggling to hold back laughter during scenes with Dilip Joshi to describing his departure from the show as emotionally intense—almost like going through a breakup, Kush reflected on the memorable experiences and emotional highs and lows of his journey. (Photo: Instagram)

I recently booked my first session of therapy. Aapko koi problem hone ki zarurat nahi to take therapy and I was aware of this. You should do therapy sometimes just like that basically to know yourself better. You actually pay someone to tell you things about you which you don’t know. When you talk to your friends or parents there’s a chance they will get biased but while taking therapy you will get unbiased opinion. They will also guide you if you are going wrong. (Photo: Instagram)

They will technically guide you and not morally. I always thought in life to take a therapy. I never took that first step. I was always pro-therapy. I have never had any issues like anxiety or anything. I have only faced anxiety during exams and that too in a very controlled way. I am very excited because it is like paying someone to listen to your secrets. I don’t have any expectations. (Photo: Instagram)

I don’t believe in body-positivity. If a doctor tells someone that he needs to lose weight otherwise he will die then he needs to exercise and lose weight. He can’t just sit and believe in body positivity. It not about how you look, your lifestyle. I had a lot of weight sometime back, I realised the breathing pattern changes, you know how you breathe. I still don’t know my real features or cuts in my face, because I am overweight. Main patla hounga toh pata chalega, main kaisa dikhta hoon. (Photo: Instagram)

Kush opens up about favourite memory with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and says, There have been many favourite moments. But one that has been most memorable was working with SRK. I have been lucky to have worked with Shah Rukh Khan. I have been with him thrice and I’ve worked with other stars also when they visited our show. Shah Rukh was on our set for 12 hours and I’m not kidding. Koi nahi raha itna 12 ghanta, he was on the set. Around 4 am we all were very hungry and Shah Rukh ordered idli from a random Anna. He sent his driver to get idli from local Anna. We sat together and idli and vada. That was my best and crazy memory."

Right now, I’m missing Goli. I just miss being on the sets because I have spent 16 years there. I was a kid when I started working and now I’ve grownup. I spent more time on sets rather than being at home. I always say this mujhe sanskaar do jagah se mile hain, mujhe mummy papa ne bhi diye hain aur sets se mile hain. Its not like actors taught me, the technicians, technical team, who are so smart and there EQ is so much. They have taught me everything. They have ragged me, bullied me and pampered me also. Now, I rag them after growing up. (Photo: Instagram)

I miss being on sets because that is my home. But I had to take this decision for me because I turned 27 and I felt this is the time to do something. I feel this show is going to go on forever as viewers are not going to stop loving the show. I love TMKOC, the people on the show, I genuinely love it and I was addicted to that environment. We shot during COVID as well, we shifted to Daman and shot there. There has been not a single day, when I’ve woken up and I don’t have to go anywhere. Then there comes a time when you start missing it. (Photo: Instagram)

I was in 5th class when I started doing Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. I started working during 5th standard vacation. We used to sit with Dilip sir with scripts in our hand and would improvise. I started learning from him as a kid and enjoyed it. I have learnt a lot especially from Bhide (Mandar) uncle and Dilip sir. They have a crazy timing. I loved acting and enjoyed each day on the sets. (Photo: Instagram)

For me it doesn’t make a difference with whom I’m acting. My job was to act and create chemistry with Tapu, I was never bothered who was acting in front of me. Humein dikhana tha humari friendship kitni acchi hai toh real life mein bhi friendship acchi rakhi. I worked with three different people who saw Tapu in a three different way. It was a very educational journey. When an actor leaves the show and other person walks in, the show must go on. Shoot doesn’t stop for anyone, my grandfather died, I went for his funeral and left after 5 minutes for shoot. I was shooting a comedy scene. We shot during COVID also. (Photo: Instagram)

If you go back and see the old episodes and my scene with Dilip sir and if you zoom on my face, you will spot me controlling my laughter. While performing scenes with Dilip sir, I would always control my laughter. Main nahi acting Kar paata hoon, main khul ke hasta hoon. Mujhe hassi aajati hai. He is too funny. Dilip sir and Asit sir were friends and he offered him the role. He is a legend, he is something else. (Photo: Instagram)

While leaving the show, I cried and physically my heart was paining. I have never experienced breakup in my life. It was like breaking up on good terms. It was like ab toh jaana padega. TMKOC is my first love. (Photo: Instagram)