Tanmay Vekaria, widely recognized as Bagha from the popular television show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has been entertaining audiences with his impeccable comic timing and antics. In an old interview with Josh Talks, the actor opened up about his life, revealing his financial struggles, months of unemployment, and how he eventually landed the iconic role of Bagha. He also discussed the numerous cameo roles he performed before securing the part that made him a household name.
Father Inspired Him to Take Up Acting
Born and raised in Kandivali in a lower-middle-class family, Tanmay Vekaria grew up with his parents, his brother Manveet, and himself. Today, his brother is a chartered accountant settled in Australia. His father, Arvind Vekaria, is a well-known figure in Gujarati theatre. Watching his father perform on stage from a young age sparked Tanmay's interest in acting and inspired him to pursue the craft.
Audition Days
After completing his graduation in 1999, Tanmay began searching for roles. He dropped his portfolio at all production houses in Aaram Nagar and auditioned for various roles. However, things did not materialize for about one to one and a half years. Despite being a graduate, he had no income during this period.
Tanmay Recalls His Struggling Days
As his father aged and his younger brother was still studying, the income from his father's theatre work was limited. His father encouraged him to find a stable job to support the family. Tanmay took his advice and started working with his uncle. His first salary was Rs 700, along with a second-class train pass. He continued doing theatre part-time, but the plays he worked on failed to connect with audiences. After several setbacks, he decided to step away from theatre.
I Was Earning Rs 700 a Month from My Job
One day, Dilip Joshi, who now plays Jethalal, was directing a play and gave Tanmay a small role. At that time, Tanmay was 30 years old, married, and had a daughter. He had many responsibilities but very little income, earning Rs 700 a month from his job and some extra money through part-time work. Taking care of his parents and daughter was not easy. Fortunately, that play helped him get noticed, and he subsequently got another play with Disha Vakani as the lead. That was when his acting journey truly began.
Did Several Cameo Roles in JD Majethia and Asit Bhai's Shows
Tanmay started his TV journey with Gujarati shows, earning a maximum of Rs 1200 per day. Fortunately, Asit Kumarr Modi and JD Majethia had started making shows in the Hindi industry and gave him opportunities to do cameos in their TV shows. He appeared in popular shows like Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, and many others. He also came in contact with Rajan Waghdhare, who gave him small roles in Yes Boss.
I Played Smriti Irani's Deaf Brother in Maniben.com and It Gave Me Recognition
Tanmay's first major recognition on television came with Maniben.com, where he played Smriti Irani's deaf younger brother. The show taught him a lot about how the TV industry works. At the same time, he was still doing theatre, often shooting for television until evening, catching a flight to Gujarat for a play, performing on stage, and returning the same night. This hectic routine went on for nearly three to four months. After Maniben.com, he realized it was too difficult to manage both television and theatre together, so he decided to focus on TV and leave theatre behind.
After Maniben.com, I Was Unemployed for 4 Months
After working on Maniben.com, Tanmay was unemployed for the next four months with no work in hand. During that time, he did not receive any other offer or even a call to audition for any show. JD Majethia gave him a chance, and Atish Kapadia wrote the role, offering him a show. However, after shooting for one to two months, the show was scrapped. Under a lot of stress and worried about supporting his family, he almost decided to go back to his accounting job when he came across Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
Before Bagha's Role, I Had Done Many Cameo Roles in TMKOC
Tanmay reached out to the show's creative director looking for work and was offered a small role as a police inspector in a three-day track. He had already appeared in a few cameo roles on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. While waiting near the lift on set, he met Sohil Bhai, who asked about the role he was doing and suggested he should not take it. Instead, Sohil Bhai introduced him to the character of Bagha and asked him to audition. Tanmay auditioned and was selected. Since Dilip Joshi and he had worked together in theatre earlier, they already shared a good rapport, which helped create natural chemistry on screen.
Dilip Bhai and Asit Bhai Told Me That Bagha Was a Hit Character
Tanmay took inspiration from real life to play the role of Bagha. He knew someone who had a unique way of standing and behaving, and he incorporated those mannerisms into the role. He showed them to Asit Modi and Dilip Joshi, who found it very funny and interesting. After his very first scene, they told him that it was a hit character and would create a benchmark. When Bagha's first episode aired on June 27, 2010, Tanmay's life changed completely. What was initially meant to be a cameo soon turned into a permanent role, and Bagha became one of the most loved and important characters on the show.
