Shailesh Lodha recalls his long friendship with Sonu Nigam in b'day note
Mumbai, July 31
Actor Shailesh Lodha, who shot to fame with his work in "Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma", penned a heartfelt birthday note for singer Sonu Nigam, reminiscing about their decades-old friendship and humble middle-class beginnings.
Shailesh shared a sepia-hued throwback image featuring him alongside Sonu from their younger days.
"Aaj @sonunigamofficial ka Janam Diwas hai... Shubhkaamnayein anant hain. Hamari mitrata us zamaane se hai jab hum dono hi aise nazar aate the. Dono hi madhyam varg se aaye... Bachpan mein hi manch ne apna liya aur bas tab se kaam hi kar rahe hain. Aur Sonu ne to yash aur kirti ke kirtimaan gadh diye hain. Bas aise hi apni awaaz se karodon dilon ko khushiyan baantte raho," he wrote.
(Today is @sonunigamofficial's birthday... My heartfelt wishes for him are endless.
Our friendship goes back to a time when both of us looked like this... We both came from middle-class families. The stage embraced us in our childhood, and we've simply kept working ever since. Sonu, of course, has gone on to set remarkable milestones of success, fame, and glory. May you continue to spread happiness to millions of hearts with your incredible voice. Wishing you a very happy birthday and many more years of success!)
Shailesh first appeared on Wah Wah, a poetry show created by Shri Adhikari Brothers, and then on Comedy Circus as a contestant. He portrayed Taarak Mehta in the sitcom series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah from 2008 to 2022.
The actor was the main presenter in the TV program Wah! Wah! Kya Baat Hai! telecast. In 2019, he appeared in the comedy film Wig Boss along with Sunil Pal and Rakhi Sawant. In 2022, Lodha filed a lawsuit against producer Asit Kumarr Modi for his pending dues.
Meanwhile, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah abbreviated as TMKOC, is based on the weekly column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma by Tarak Mehta for the magazine Chitralekha.
The series is set in Mumbai and follows the lives of the residents of Gokuldham Co-operative Housing Society, a diverse community with people from different cultural and regional backgrounds.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Kitni pyari friendship hai! Shailesh ka note padh kar lag raha hai jaise apne purane dost ke liye likha ho. Aaj ki generation mein aisa rishta milna mushkil hai. Sonu Nigam ne sach mein bahut naam kamaya hai.
Middle-class se aana aur aaj ke level pe hona - kya achievement hai! 🎉 Shailesh ne wah wah show me bhi kaam kiya tha, wo bhi nostalgia hai. Bas TMKOC chhodne ke baad se wo show ka maza nahi aata.
As someone who's watched TMKOC for years, this is heartwarming. Shows like these bring the community together. Happy birthday to Sonu Nigam - his voice is truly magical. Shailesh's bond with him shows how genuine connections last.
Shailesh ji ne TMKOC jaise show me Taarak banna aasan nahi tha. Aur Sonu Nigam ki tarah gaane walon ki koi kami nahi, par unki awaaz alag hai. Yeh dosti dekh kar accha lagta hai, especially jab media mein fake relationships dikhte hain. Aur haan, bina ghar ke show production wala drama mat bhoolna!
The middle-class trope is so relatable in India - everyone starts somewhere, and their journey is inspiring. This note is pure. Good to see artists appreciating each other in a world full of competition.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.