Exclusive - From betting track, bond with Bhavya Gandhi to portraying a Punjabi despite being a Marwadi; Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Samay Shah gets candid about playing Gogi

Samay Shah, who plays Gogi in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has been part of the show since he was a child. As a member of Tapu Sena, he has grown up on the sets. In an exclusive chat with Times of India TV, Samay talked about his experience on the show — from the recent storyline where Gogi is seen betting on a cricket match, to his strong friendship with Bhavya Gandhi, and how he enjoys playing a Punjabi character even though he is Marwadi in real life. (Photo: Instagram)

The recent track where I put money on cricket was very interesting and I enjoyed each and every scene. I had a great time working for the particular sequence. I took time to understand the sequences and perform them. I feel art is a collaborative work. It doesn’t depend on just one person. All credit goes to Asit sir, the cast and crew, the writing team and my Tapu Sena. It is collaborative and that’s the reason it comes out so beautifully. (Photo: Instagram)

I don’t think I could have portrayed the scenes or the character so well without their support. I don’t feel pressurised at all because I know we all are together in this. It is our collaborative effort. I feel relaxed and I’m always confident that we will be able to achieve the goal of entertaining the audience. (Photo: Instagram)

Yes, I’m very happy that we created awareness regarding the apps where people lose all their hard earned money. It is creating awareness and with it the track showed there is a conflict that Gogi is facing. On one hand he wants to fulfill his dream and on the other hand, he has chosen a wrong path. It dealt with a conflict inside him and lied to his parents and friends. I enjoyed the balance where he wants to fulfil his dream and make everyone happy but he chose a journey which is against society norms. The track also showed a conflict between needs and desire. (Photo: Instagram)

Honestly, whenever Tapu Sena is together... kaam hi nahi ho paata (laughs). We make so much noise and have fun together that the senior actors get strict with us. But then after sometime they also get involved. The energy is infectious and there is give and take between all of us. Khushi and Dharmit both are new, but they quickly grasp the lines and whatever the scene demands. Nitish has been with us for two years now. Usne sur pakad liya hai show ka, they quickly understand it. The details and nuances and everything they get it very fast. (Photo: Instagram)

When I joined the show everyone knew I was very young, I did not know my performance graph. But with the help of everybody around I got it and audiences’ review arrived that he is very innocent. The core of my character, Gogi, is his innocence. No matter how much he grows up, that innocence will always remain. He is simple and pure-hearted, and that’s something I’ve come to understand deeply about him. (Photo: Instagram)

There was a point when I felt my character was getting monotonous and I was doing very similar things. But I worked on character and asked my editors how I can change my character. I used to have discussions with our crew about the small things I can change about my character Gogi. Then I learnt to play Dhol, doing proper Bhangra steps. Slowly, I understood most of my life is “me being a Punjabi”. I am a Marwadi, but my native place is located between Gujarat and Rajasthan. (Photo: Instagram)

When I was signed to do the show, I did not need to speak Punjabi as I was quite young. But I remember Asit sir had a very interesting thought that I speak in a Gujarati dialect while wearing a pagdi and being a Punjabi. I wish I could have done that but I was very young at that time. I don’t want to give any reason, that ye yaa woh reason ke wajah se nahi kar paaya. But I couldn’t do it and we missed that element. I wish I could have managed to do it ke woh Gujarati bolta hai, lekin hai woh Punjabi. (Photo: Instagram)

Bhavya guides me very well. Shayad bachpan mein woh baith gaya hai mere dimaag mein ke he is the leader as seen in TMKOC, Tappu Sena’s leader. It works very well in my real life as well. If I ever go wrong in my life, he instantly corrects me. Bhavya has made me understand the difference when you give a kid a handful of candies, he will get excited thinking ohh wow there are so many of them, if you spread those candies, he will think the count has increased. Par actually mein same hote hain. He made me understand that difference. We share this kind of relationship with each other. (Photo: Instagram)