Sumeet Sachdev recalls choking scare: KSBKBT actor's co-stars joked about followers
Synopsis
Sumeet Sachdev's choking scare at a restaurant turned into a commentary on social media obsession — after his KSBKBT co-stars joked that a video of the incident, or worse, a tragic outcome, would have won him more followers. The actor's candid pushback on viral culture is striking a chord online.
Key Takeaways
Sumeet Sachdev choked on food at a restaurant while dining with his wife and brother .
His brother and the restaurant owner intervened physically to help dislodge the obstruction.
Co-stars on the KSBKBT set joked that filming the incident — or a worse outcome — would have gained him more social media followers.
Sumeet used the episode to publicly criticise the obsession with viral content.
He is currently on screen as Gautam Virani in the reboot of 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' , alongside Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay .
Actor Sumeet Sachdev, currently reprising his role of Gautam Virani in the reboot of the iconic television drama 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' (KSBKBT), has opened up about a frightening choking incident that he described as a near-death experience. The actor shared the episode through a video on his social media account, using it as an opportunity to urge followers to eat mindfully and take small bites.
What Happened at the Restaurant
Sumeet revealed that the incident occurred while he was dining at a restaurant with his wife and brother. Food got lodged in his throat, leaving him struggling to breathe. 'I am a very careful eater, but a few days ago, my food got stuck and I choked. It was very scary,' he said.
His brother responded immediately, hitting him on the back in an attempt to dislodge the obstruction. The restaurant owner also stepped in, administering a series of firm jerks to help. 'Thankfully, by God's grace, everything is alright now,' Sumeet said, recounting the ordeal.
Co-Stars' Dark Humour Goes Viral Online
When Sumeet narrated the incident to his co-actors on set, their response was laced with dark humour. They reportedly asked whether anyone had filmed the episode, suggesting it could have been posted for social media traction. The jokes escalated further, with cast members quipping that a more tragic outcome would have generated even more followers.
'When I told my co-actors about it, they asked, 'Didn't anyone record a video?' I said no. They replied, 'If someone had taken a video, you could have posted it and gained some traction.' Then they even joked that if something tragic had happened, imagine how many followers I would have got,' he recounted.
Sumeet's Message on Viral Obsession
The actor used the anecdote as a springboard to reflect on what he called the pointlessness of chasing viral content and hollow online attention. 'I thought, is this really something to say? If you think about it, it's all quite pointless. So why do things that are pointless? Do things that actually make a point,' he said.
His remarks resonate at a moment when social media-driven behaviour — including the filming of emergencies for content — has drawn widespread criticism across India and globally.
Back on Screen as Gautam Virani
Sumeet Sachdev has returned to the small screen with the reboot of Ektaa Kapoor's landmark show 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', reprising the beloved role of Gautam Virani. The reboot also sees Smriti Irani return as Tulsi Virani and Amar Upadhyay back as Mihir Virani, reuniting much of the original cast for a new generation of viewers. The show's return has already generated considerable buzz among fans of the original run.
Point of View
But the joke lands uncomfortably close to a real pattern — emergencies filmed for content, tragedies mined for engagement. That a mainstream television actor felt compelled to publicly push back on this instinct is itself a signal of how normalised the behaviour has become. His remarks will likely earn applause online, but the irony is that the very video calling out viral obsession is itself travelling virally. The KSBKBT reboot gives him a large platform; how he uses it beyond nostalgia will be worth watching.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What choking incident did Sumeet Sachdev reveal?
Sumeet Sachdev revealed that he recently choked on food while dining at a restaurant with his wife and brother. His brother hit him on the back and the restaurant owner also stepped in to help, and he recovered without serious injury.
How did Sumeet Sachdev's KSBKBT co-stars react to the incident?
His co-stars reacted with dark humour, asking whether anyone had recorded the incident for social media and joking that a more tragic outcome would have generated even more followers. Sumeet used their reaction to make a broader point about the pointlessness of chasing viral content.
What is Sumeet Sachdev's role in the KSBKBT reboot?
Sumeet Sachdev is reprising the role of Gautam Virani in the reboot of Ektaa Kapoor's iconic show 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'. The reboot also stars Smriti Irani as Tulsi Virani and Amar Upadhyay as Mihir Virani.
What message did Sumeet Sachdev share after the choking scare?
Sumeet urged people to eat mindfully and take small bites, echoing advice commonly given by parents. He also reflected on social media obsession, saying people should 'do things that actually make a point' rather than chasing meaningless attention.
Who is Sumeet Sachdev?
Sumeet Sachdev is an Indian television actor best known for playing Gautam Virani in the original run of 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'. He has returned to the role in the show's reboot produced by Ektaa Kapoor.
