# Disha Vakani almost moved to London before Apara Mehta’s advice 2026-08-22T15:23:43+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Apara Mehta of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has revealed that she advised Disha Vakani to take the role of Dayaben in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah when Vakani was considering a drama tour in London. Mehta told Vakani the show would last 6-8 years, a prediction that proved accurate as TMKOC became one of the longest-running shows on Indian television. Vakani, who became a household name as Dayaben, took a maternity break in 2017 during her first pregnancy and never returned to the show. She became a mother for the second time in 2022. Mehta called herself a lifelong fan of Vakani, saying the actress is far more talented than the comic role she is known for. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Disha Vakani's Dayaben remains one of Indian television's most iconic characters, but her departure after 2017 left a void the show has struggled to fill. The producers have kept the character alive by having Daya 'visit her mother' indefinitely, a narrative device that allows the door for return to remain open. Fans still speculate about a comeback, especially around milestone episodes. With TMKOC now entering its 17th year, the question is whether the show can sustain without its original star cast, several of whom have left over the years. Watch for any announcement around the show's anniversary in July. ## Coverage - ndtv.com straightforward celebrity anecdote with no political or ideological framing This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Apara Mehta, Disha Vakani, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/disha-vakani-almost-moved-to-london-before-apara-mehtas-advice/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/disha-vakani-almost-moved-to-london-before-apara-mehtas-advice/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/