Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From mimicking Charlie Chaplin, having no work for 7-8 years to working with Dilip Joshi, SRK-Salman; Sharad Sankla aka Abdul gets candid about life

Sharad Sankla, who is popularly known for his role as Abdul in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, started his journey with films.

He was originally known in Bollywood as Charlie for his impeccable mimicry of Charlie Chaplin.

However, despite working with some of the biggest Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar, there was a time in his career when he had no work.

In an old podcast, The Awaara Musaafir Show, Sharad Sankla spoke about his journey on TMKOC, his struggling phase when he had no work for 8 years, and his bond with Dilip Joshi. (Photo: Instagram)Asit Kumarr Modi and I are friends and I did one of my first shows with his production house, Neela Telefilms.

The show was named Hum Sab Ek Hain and I was a lucky charm for him because the first scene of that show was shot with me.

It was the mahurat shot and that's the reason, he considers me very lucky.

When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah began, I wasn’t working for nearly seven to eight years.

I don’t know exactly why, but either I wasn’t getting work or I was going through a phase of struggle.

I was going through a bad phase. (Photo: Instagram)From 2001 to 2007, I did very little work.

In fact, I hardly had any work.

During that time people worked with their own people or had their clan, so I had no work.

Later, I came to know that Asit Kumar Modi was planning a show on a very large scale.

One of my close friends and college mate, Raj Premi, suggested my name to Asit Bhai.

He requested that since I had no work and I am a good actor, he should consider me. (Photo: Instagram)At that time there was no audition process.

Asit Bhai directly called me and explained the concept of the show.

He told me that the show would have characters from different communities, but there was no Muslim character.

Since the story had a paan shop in Gujarat, he offered me the role of a simple and innocent soda shop owner.

I didn't have much work at that time, and who would refuse Asit Kumar Modi? So I said yes, and today everyone can see where that decision has brought me. (Photo: Instagram)I feel happy to be recognised as Abdul, my character name from TMKOC.

My family and relatives know me as Sharad Shankla and that's enough.

When people love your character so much that they start calling you by that name, it feels really special.

It brings happiness from within.

I believe it is something to be proud of when your work leaves such a strong impression on people.

If someone comes up and says, “Abdul Miyaan, how are you?” We greet them with Salaam.

Even if they don’t know my real name and only recognize me by my character, we still welcome them warmly and with gratitude. (Photo: Instagram)Work had started drying out and I used to play small character roles, like hero's friend.

That was the trend in the industry at the time.

Later, things changed, and heroes started taking on comedy roles and leading entire films themselves.

Back then, actors like Asrani ji were doing a lot of work, and many experienced artists were getting good opportunities.

So, it wasn’t really possible for me to choose roles or say no to certain characters.

You had to accept whatever came your way.

Later on, it was Johnny bhai’s time.

From the 1990s to the early 2000s, he appeared in almost every film. (Photo: Instagram)When people saw Johnny bhai on-screen, they started saying that they wanted to see his comedy.

Rajpal Yadav became very popular with the audience, and such actors were getting bigger comic roles.

Because of this, we didn’t get many opportunities, and I agree that it felt like a tough phase in my life.

You could say that I was going through a difficult period, or “Sade Sati.” It was happening in my life.

But then, Sunny Deol gave me an opportunity and brought me onto this platform. (Photo: Instagram)My struggle taught me many things.

In the 1990s, I began popular as Charlie because I used to do a lot of Charlie Chaplin roles, especially his mimicry.

People loved me as Charlie and they would come to me to get autographs.

But then there was a time when I had no work and now again I am famous as Abdul Bhai.

I learnt 'waqt toh badalta rehega lekin aapko wohi rehna chahiye joh aap ho'.

Today, when fans come to me and ask for photos or autograph, I never say no.

Even if I'm tired, I happily greet them.

Jab mere paas kaam nahi tha, main uss waqt tarasta tha but with God's grace, phir se accha time aagaya. (Photo: Instagram)I have worked with Shah Rukh Khan in four films and I have come to know that he is very disciplined about his work.

He believes in rehearsals to make his work perfection.

In those days, we used to record on reels and it would cost around Rs 20,000.

The reels would only work for 2.5 minutes.

Shah Rukh bhai would rehearse to save producers money.

I personally like him.

He has good memory and whenever he has come on our sets to promote his films, he has been good to me.

SRK is a good businessman and he knows ke mujhe sabko saath mein leke chalna hai. (Photo: Instagram)Salman Khan is a free bird and he is very relaxed, chilled out actor.

I have also done 3-4 films with him.

He is a good friend and unka nature bahot accha hai.

If you notice his old films, he always repeats his friends in his movies.

Raju Shrestha, Bablu Mukerjee, he repeated them.

He always gave love to me a lot.

SRK loves perfection and Salman is very good looking, very relaxed and man mauji hai.

But see both of them have been ruling the industry for 30 years.

They are 65 and still playing heroes. (Photo: Instagram)Dilip Joshi is the king of Gujarati theatre and has a strong stage background.

One of his strength is that despite being a Gujarati, his Hindi is quite good.

His Hindi is exceptionally pure, beautiful, and sweet.

Another big advantage is that he is a trained stage actor.

Because of this, working with him becomes very easy.

We all work together as a team.

Even today, before shooting a scene, all the actors sit together and discuss it.

We talk about how the scene should be performed, especially when new scenes come in. (Photo: Instagram)If we are shooting the next day, we usually discuss the scenes in advance.

Dilip Joshi plays a key role in making the scenes better.

He is one of the biggest strengths of the show, and when he guides a scene well, everyone performs better.

He has reached this position because of his hard work and dedication.

Even now, he is very fit and full of energy.

His positive attitude motivates all of us on the set. (Photo: Instagram)