Actor Dilip Joshi has dismissed recent reports claiming that he is leaving the long-running television sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Speaking during a media interaction on the show's sets on Friday, Joshi said the rumours were false and appealed to media organisations to verify information before publishing such reports.

Addressing the speculation, Joshi expressed concern over the spread of unverified stories online. He said that fabricated reports are often circulated to attract views and requested news outlets to confirm information with the production house or the concerned individuals before publishing it.

"I would like to request all news agencies and media houses that before you publish or print anything, please confirm it once with the production house or with the person concerned to check whether it is true or false," Joshi said.

The actor, who has portrayed the character of Jethalal Gada for nearly 18 years, also reflected on the show's long-running success. He noted that Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has crossed 4,750 episodes and said he remains grateful to be part of a series that continues to entertain audiences.

Joshi also acknowledged the efforts of producer Asit Kumarr Modi and the show's writing team in sustaining the sitcom over the years. He said creating fresh stories consistently for such a long-running programme is challenging and credited the team for their continued work.

Reiterating his appeal, the actor urged media organisations to verify information directly with the production team or the individuals involved before reporting on such matters, saying that a simple confirmation could help prevent the spread of misinformation.

First aired in 2008, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah remains one of Indian television's longest-running comedy shows. The sitcom continues to feature a recurring ensemble cast, including Nirmal Soni, Munmun Dutta, Amit Bhatt, Sunayana Fozdar, Sachin Shroff, Mandar Chandwadkar and Sonalika Joshi.

Sources: Hindustan Times