Taarak Mehta's Dilip Joshi turns 53: Doing side roles in Bollywood films to becoming everyone’s favourite as Jethalal, his journey unfolded

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Dilip Joshi has turned 53 today (May 26). The actor had an early start to his career and has now cemented a place for himself in the industry. Popularly known by his character name, Jethalal, his journey from a theatre artist to being one of the most well-known faces of Indian TV, is an inspiring and successful one. As he celebrates another year of life and success, here’s a sneak peek into his journey so far:

Dilip began his acting career with Salman Khan and Bhagyashree’s popular movie Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989. He played a small role of servant ‘Ramu’ in the movie. Even though it was a small side role, he won hearts with his comic timing.

The popular actor appeared in Gujarati plays for 25 years and once shared that he didn’t care much about anything because he loved doing theatre. His last theatre play was ‘Daya Bhai’.

Dilip worked as a backstage artist on a commercial stage for a long time. He once revealed that he earned Rs 50 per role then. Although it was too little of payment for him, the passion he had for theatre didn’t bother him much.

Very few know that Dilip has been a part of as many as 15 Bollywood movies in his 20 years of a film career. He has starred in some of the most popular movies including, Hum Aapke Hain Koun!, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, One 2 Ka 4, Dil Hai Tumhara and many others. However, he couldn’t make it big in the film industry. Last he appeared in Priyanka Chopra’s What’s Your Raashee?

Most popular as Jethalal, Dilip Joshi has featured in several popular television shows. He started his TV journey with Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh in 1995 and there has been no going back since then. Apart from Taarak Mehta, notable shows of his career include Daal Mein Kala, Do Aur Do Paanch, Hum Sab Ek Hain, Shubh Mangal Savadhan, C.I.D, FIR and many others.

Stars worked in his favour when Dilip was offered Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2008. But not everyone knows that he was jobless for more than a year before Taarak happened. Before doing the popular sitcom, he starred in a children's comic show, Agadam Bagdam Tigdam.

Jethalal could have been Champaklal Jayantilal Gada? Yes, you read that right. Before being offered to play Jethalal, Dilip was offered the role of his dad, Champaklal in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. But he found himself more suitable for the role that he is currently playing and it has proved to be the best decision.

Dilip had to leave theatre to carry on with Taarak Mehta. In one of his interviews, the actor had shared that he had to shoot for 12 hours straight for the sitcom which didn’t leave him with much time in hand to do theatre. He also shared that he misses theatre. But all's well that ends well, as Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is his biggest success.

Playing Jethalal didn’t only come as a great success in terms of his popularity for Dilip, but also made him earn many accolades as well as the love of his fans. He has received many awards and accolades for essaying the role.

He surely has a knack for playing Jethalal, which is the reason why both his name, on-screen or off-screen, have always been taken together. Moreover, people know him more as Jethalal than Dilip Joshi. Surprisingly, it is his dialogues that have garnered him immense fandom.

Undoubtedly, Dilip has made everyone go in splits with some of his funniest and popular dialogues. Precisely, 'aay pagal aurat!, Tapuuuuuu!, Non sense…, Ae Tu Shanti rakhna bhai…, Kya Tapleek Hai Aapko?' Besides, his character and its dialogue have surely become a popular choice for memers and social media users. Memes related to him are as popular as he is as Jethalal.