Filmmaker Kedar Shinde on 2 November 2026 marked 25 years of the beloved Marathi television classic 'Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre', sharing a rare behind-the-scenes photograph featuring the show's original cast and penning a heartfelt tribute to the family drama that helped define his identity as a director. The show, which first aired on 2 November 2001, remains one of the most celebrated family sitcoms in Marathi television history.

The Milestone Post

Shinde took to social media to share the throwback photograph, which features veteran actor Dilip Prabhavalkar, alongside Rajan Bhise, Shubhangi Gokhale, Vikas Kadam, and Reshma Naik. The image offered fans a nostalgic glimpse into the making of the much-loved show.

Alongside the picture, Shinde wrote in Marathi: 'Today, on this very day, the first episode of 'Tipre' was aired. It has been 25 years since this historic milestone! This show gave me a lot on a personal level. We stopped the show after completing 175 episodes, but even today, it continues to reside in the hearts of its admirers. Such things happen very rarely.'

Why the Show Ended at 175 Episodes

Shinde recalled a telling exchange with Prabhavalkar before the show even launched. 'Before the first episode was aired, Dilip Prabhavalkar asked me what number the last episode would be,' Shinde wrote. 'Back then, only four episodes were telecast on television every month. I told him, 175! And we stopped it at exactly that number.'

Shinde noted that the question audiences most often ask him — even today — is not when the show ended, but why. 'The question of 'Why did you end it?' rather than 'When will it end?' is far more significant,' he wrote, underscoring the emotional bond the show built with its viewers across generations.

About the Show and Its Cast

'Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre' was based on actor and writer Dilip Prabhavalkar's literary work 'Anudini'. The sitcom revolved around the everyday life of a middle-class Maharashtrian family, exploring generational differences, relationships, and the quiet joys and challenges of domestic life.

Prabhavalkar portrayed the central character Gangadhar Tipre, affectionately called Aaba — an octogenarian grandfather and the emotional anchor of the family. Notably, Prabhavalkar was around 57 years old at the time of the premiere, playing a character more than two decades his senior. Rajan Bhise played Aaba's son Shekhar, Shubhangi Gokhale played daughter-in-law Shyamala, Vikas Kadam played grandson Shirya, and Reshma Naik played granddaughter Shalaka. Actors Mukta Barve and Shreyas Talpade also made appearances in the show.

Kedar Shinde's Career and Legacy

For Shinde, 'Tipre' was the launchpad for a prolific career in Marathi entertainment. He went on to direct several television productions including 'Housefull', 'Hasa Chakat Fu', 'Jagavegali', 'Saheb, Bibi Ani Mi', 'Ghadlay Bighadlay', and 'Sukhi Mansaacha Sadra'. On the big screen, he earned recognition with films such as 'Jatra', 'Aga Bai Arrecha!', 'Bakula Namdev Ghotale', 'Galgale Nighale', and 'Baipan Bhari Deva'.

Dilip Prabhavalkar: Then and Now

Prabhavalkar has continued to be one of the most respected performers in both Marathi and Hindi cinema. His recent film 'Dashavatar', directed by Subodh Khanolkar, earned widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Babuli Mestri, a veteran Dashavatari folk theatre performer from the Konkan region. The film, which also stars Mahesh Manjrekar and Bharat Jadhav, entered the Oscars contention list. In Hindi cinema, Prabhavalkar is widely remembered for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in director Rajkumar Hirani's 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai', starring Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi.

Twenty-five years on, the legacy of 'Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre' endures — and if Shinde's note is any indication, its admirers show no signs of letting it go quietly into television history.