From accepting the role of Champaklal, Jethalal’s father, at 35 to his bond with Dilip Joshi: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Amit Bhatt spoke about his journey

After about six months, people started recognising the show. They came to know that a good family serial was airing based on Tarak Mehta’s work. Gradually, the show’s popularity grew, and before I even realised it, people had started recognising me everywhere. When I began playing Champaklal, I was only 35 years old. Yet, even people much older than me would come and touch my feet, calling me ‘Bapuji’ and treating me like an elder. Initially, it felt a little strange and I would tell them, ‘Please don’t do that, I’m not really an old man.’ But later I understood that it was their love and affection for the character. (Photo: Instagram)