Disha Vakani makes 1st appearance five years after exiting Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah

Fans of the popular TV show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah were in for a delightful surprise as they got their first glimpse of Disha Vakani - who portrayed the beloved character Dayaben - after her exit from the show almost five years ago. Disha's departure from the sitcom left her fans upset and her absence from public events and appearances only fueled their curiosity surrounding her.

3 things you need to know

• Disha Vakani has been a part of the Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma show since 2008.
• Disha tied the knot with a Mumbai-based chartered accountant on November 24, 2015.
• Following her maternity leave in September 2017, she did not make a comeback to the show.

Disha's playful interaction

Disha Vakani's surprise appearance came through a post on the YouTube channel Ravindra Usha Vlogs, which usually documents the daily lives of Ravindra and Usha. In the video, the couple is seen meeting Disha Vakani at an undisclosed location. Fans were quick to notice that the actress looked quite different from her on-screen persona, especially without makeup.

In the vlog, Disha humorously comments on her changed appearance, attributing it to her busy life as a mother of two kids. She jests with the couple, asking them to edit her face to make her look glamorous in the final cut of the video. Despite her initial hesitance, she eventually accepts a thoughtful gift from the couple.

Uncertainty surrounding Dayaben's replacement

Since Disha's departure from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, there have been numerous speculations about who would fill the void left by Dayaben's absence. Names of several actresses, including Aishwarya Sakhuja, Rakhi Vijan, and Kajal Pisal, have been associated with the iconic role, but no official announcement has been made yet.

Disha Vakani's portrayal of Dayaben earned her a massive fanbase and the actress had become synonymous with the character itself. In addition to Disha Vakani's exit, the show also faced another major setback when Shailesh Lodha, who played the character of Taarak Mehta for 14 years, also decided to bid farewell to the series last year.