A few days ago, a video from the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah set went viral.
Tanmay Vekaria — the man we all know as Bagha — broke down sobbing on set.
Shooting had to be paused.
Later, he said softly: "I was missing my mother."
This week, life dealt him another blow.
💔 His father, Arvind Vekaria, is no more.
If you grew up around Gujarati rangmanch, you knew the name.
Arvind Vekaria wasn't just an actor.
He was an actor, director, and producer — all rolled into one.
For decades, he shaped what Gujarati theatre looked, sounded and felt like.
A few of his most-loved works:
Generations of young Gujarati actors learned the craft sitting at his feet.
Here's a sweet little detail.
The same show that made his son a household name as Bagha…
also featured the father.
Arvind Vekaria appeared in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in a small but memorable role — as a jeweller, sharing screen space with his own son.
Father and son. Same frame. Same show.
A quiet little gift to the family album.
For the TMKOC family, this is the second jolt in a short span.
Not long ago, Bhim Vakani — father of Disha Vakani, the original Dayaben — also passed away.
And now Bagha's father.
CINTAA confirmed the news with a heartfelt post. Tributes are pouring in from across Gujarati theatre, the TMKOC team, and fans who grew up laughing with both father and son.
Tanmay has often said the same thing in interviews:
His first stage. His first cue. His first applause.
All of it came under his father's watchful eye.
Before the country saw him as the lovable assistant at Jethalal's shop, a father in Mumbai was teaching his son how to hold a stage.
Gujarati theatre lost a legend this week.
Bagha lost his hero.
And somewhere, a curtain quietly came down on one of rangmanch's most respected lives.
That's all for now!
