Tanmay Vekaria on father's last wish: A TMKOC binge-watch that never was
Synopsis
TMKOC's Bagha, Tanmay Vekaria, revealed the one promise he could not keep — a binge-watch of his episodes with his hospitalised father, who insisted his son stay on set rather than rush to his side. The story is a quiet portrait of a family where professional duty and personal sacrifice were the same thing.
Key Takeaways
Tanmay Vekaria , who plays Bagha on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah , opened up about the death of his father in a recent interview.
His father, hospitalised while Tanmay's love-story track with on-screen wife Bawri was airing, asked his son not to leave the set even in an emergency.
From his hospital bed, his father expressed a wish to binge-watch all of Tanmay's episodes on YouTube once he returned home — a wish that was never fulfilled.
Tanmay recalled that his father once performed a theatre show the same evening his own sister passed away, illustrating the family's deep commitment to professional duty.
The actor said he believes his parents continue to bless him and the entire TMKOC team, and he hopes to pass their values on to his children.
Tanmay Vekaria, who plays the beloved Bagha on the long-running sitcom 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' (TMKOC), broke down while recalling a promise he had made to his late father — a binge-watch of his episodes together that was never fulfilled. The actor opened up about his father's final days during a recent interview, offering a rare and deeply personal glimpse into the values that shaped him.
A Promise Made at the Hospital Bedside
Vekaria revealed that when his father was hospitalised, his popular on-screen love story track with his reel wife Bawri was actively airing on TMKOC. Even in that difficult moment, his father's first concern was his son's professional commitment. 'He told me that if any such news comes while I was on the set, don't run back immediately. Complete work as much as you can. The producer should not suffer any loss. I know the losses are very heavy and irreplaceable, but those were his values,' Tanmay said.
His father, a devoted viewer of the show, had a daily ritual of watching TMKOC between 8.30 and 9 p.m. From his hospital bed, he told his son: 'Your story is going very well. Even the hospital staff is talking about it. Once I come home, show me all your episodes on YouTube. I would like to watch them.'
The Binge-Watch That Could Not Happen
Tanmay immediately promised his father they would watch the episodes together once he recovered. 'I told him, 'You come home and we'll do a binge-watch together.' But that could not happen,' he said, visibly struggling to hold back his emotions. The simplicity of that unfulfilled wish — a father wanting to relive his son's work from the comfort of home — struck a chord with fans who heard the actor recount it.
A Family Rooted in Theatre and Duty
The actor credited his upbringing in a theatre family for the professional discipline he carries to this day. He recalled a striking example set by his own father: 'My father had lost his own sister, and the very same day he had a theatre show. My aunt passed away at 6.30, and at 9 o'clock he was on stage performing.' That ethos — of honouring commitments regardless of personal grief — is something Tanmay says he now internalises and hopes to pass on to his own children.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Despite his loss, the actor said he draws strength from the belief that his parents continue to bless him and the entire TMKOC team. 'I know my parents are blessing me, the entire team and everyone associated with the show. The values they gave me are something I want to pass on to my children and carry their legacy forward. That's all I seek from them, their blessings,' he added. Tanmay Vekaria has been a fixture on TMKOC as Bagha, the loyal employee at the Gada Electronics shop owned by Dilip Joshi's character Jethalal. His emotional candour off-screen has only deepened the affection audiences hold for him.
Point of View
No matter the personal cost. What makes it resonate beyond the TMKOC fanbase is its quiet inversion of celebrity culture: here is a popular TV actor whose father's dying concern was that the producer should not suffer a loss. That value system, rooted in pre-television Gujarati theatre, is increasingly rare in an industry defined by personal branding. The mainstream coverage will focus on the emotional moment; the more interesting story is what it says about how professional identity and familial identity can become indistinguishable — and what that inheritance means for the next generation.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tanmay Vekaria and what role does he play in TMKOC?
Tanmay Vekaria is a television actor best known for playing Bagha, the loyal employee at Gada Electronics, on the long-running sitcom 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah'. The shop is run by Dilip Joshi's character Jethalal, and Bagha has been a fan favourite throughout the show's run.
What was Tanmay Vekaria's father's last wish?
His father, while hospitalised, expressed a wish to watch all of Tanmay's episodes on YouTube once he returned home. Tanmay had promised they would do a binge-watch together, but his father passed away before that could happen.
What did Tanmay Vekaria's father say about his professional duties during his hospitalisation?
Despite being hospitalised, Tanmay's father told him not to leave the set even if bad news came. He asked his son to complete his work first so the producer would not suffer a loss, reflecting the professional values he had instilled in his family.
How did Tanmay Vekaria's theatre background influence his approach to work?
Tanmay comes from a theatre family and recalled that his father once performed a stage show the same evening his own sister passed away. That example of honouring professional commitments through personal grief is a value Tanmay says he now carries and wants to pass on to his children.
What did Tanmay Vekaria say about his parents after his loss?
Tanmay said he believes his parents continue to bless him and the entire TMKOC team from above. He said the values they gave him are something he wants to pass on to his children and carry their legacy forward.
