Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Ambika Ranjankar
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‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ star Ambika Ranjankar, who plays the role of Komal on the show, recently made headlines after she responded to a troll gracefully. When we reached out to the actor to understand if the negativity on social media affects her, the actress stunned us with her response. Ambika also opened up on the show (TMKOC) completing 13 years recently and if fans would be able to see their favourite Dayaben aka Disha Vakani back on the show anytime soon. Over to her:

‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ has been on the top for 13 years now. Do you ever feel an added pressure because of its popularity?

Luckily, we don’t because it is a team work, right from the producers to the actors to the writers. It is not a project for us anymore, it is family. With working for so many years now, there is a better understanding between all of us which obviously helps us perform better. So, the pressure is not on any one person, it is equally divided between everyone. A little bit of stress is needed but otherwise, it is a happy unit who gives it their best shot each day.

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Recently, you reacted to a troll on social media which garnered you a lot of praises. How do you deal with the negativity in general?

The way I look at things is different. I feel when you have a lot of pent up frustration is released when you heal. People might come out with a lot of negativity that they themselves feel and remove it by posting something on social media and I am glad that they bring it out because that helps them heal. That is why I wrote back to that guy that I wished he could heal better because his frustration might have come from a point where he must be holding back lot of pain himself. It is not just about that one post, in general I believe people have different opinions and I respect that. That’s the beauty of our show that it gives people an opportunity to let go of the negativity, and that is why perhaps people relate to it so much.

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But hate comments can usually get to you at times…. doesn’t it?

It depends on how you take the comment, if you perceive it to be a negative comment, then you will get affected negatively. My perspective of looking out is totally differently. So, when I noticed him repeatedly writing to me, I just hoped and wished that he healed because I think he is too young right now and needs the right direction. These comments I feel are necessary because it is ground reality for us that whatever we do, there will be such elements too which also comprises of our society.

TMKOC completed 13 years recently. It is surreal…

So many elements in the success of the show, right from Asit Ji adapting the original work of Taarak Mehta and then that being taken over by new writers, and the artists and, and, and, all these ands speak volumes of the number of people involved with the show and its success. It is the audience’s love too which is the biggest reason for its success.

Comedy is one of the most difficult genres. Any challenging scene you can recollect?

There are many scenes actually, out of which is one where the tempo had gone stuck between the passage and we had to cross the wall to go inside, that story was really hilarious. Other was Hathi Bhai being rescued from the auto where he got stuck.

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Disha Vakani’s re-entry on the show is most awaited. Any possibility for this year? Are you in touch with her?

Hope is one factor which has always been with humanity so even we are hoping, let’s see. Disha and I know each other since 2009, because we did Gujarati plays together. I know Disha in and out, I have been at her Ahmedabad house, that mad memories with her. We have done US tour for our show, we had been room partners, so I know her routine, how she takes life. how dedicated, sincere and naïve she was, till date she is like that.

I am in touch with her but not regularly. I text her on her birthdays, anniversaries, on her daughter’s birthday and all these important dates. She calls me sometimes when she is free and then we chat.

Fans miss Disha a lot on the show. Do you guys miss shooting with her?

Yes, we definitely do miss her on sets. Sometimes when there are these mad one liners which we think Daya’s character can pull off well, we would miss her all the more then.

What are your plans and expectations from 2021?

2020 was also a good year because we got to learn, unlearn so many things. 2021, I will take it each day at a time and go with the flow. Why keep expectations? I am sure it will work out for everyone.

Also Read: ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s first episode post lockdown kickstarts a hilarious meme fest