TMKOC's Jethalal aka Dilip Joshi opens up about losing 16 kg in just 45 days, recalls 'it used to be so much fun'

Veteran actor Dilip Joshi, known for his role as Jethalal in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, revealed that he shed 16 kilograms in approximately one and a half months for his 1992 Gujarati film Hun Hunshi Hunshilal.

Joshi adopted a disciplined routine: after work, he’d change in a swimming club and jog the full Marine Drive stretch, about 45 minutes, rain or shine. He fondly recalls that it 'used to be so much fun'.

This rigorous weight-loss journey was motivated by his role as a scientist in Hun Hunshi Hunshilal, a socio-political Gujarati film. The transformation helped him fit the character’s physical demands.

Before becoming the iconic Jethalal, Dilip Joshi co-owned a travel agency from about 1985 to 1990. He managed luxury buses running routes like Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Bhavnagar, working 9 AM to 9 PM before switching to acting full-time.

Fitness expert Varun Rattan explains that losing 350 g daily is possible with high starting weight and extreme calorie deficit. But he cautions such methods may not suit everyone due to risks like nutrient loss.