'Who Says A Man Cannot Cry? A Man Should Cry': Shailesh Lodha On Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal

Shailesh Lodha, known for his portrayal of Taarak Mehta in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has, of late, become quite active on social media. Approximately two years ago, he departed from the show and alleged that the makers failed to pay his fees and other irregularities. In recent months, he has been actively involved in various programs as a speaker, poet, and actor, openly sharing his views on political matters and issues within the TV-film industry. He recently shared his thoughts on the release of the film Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, last year.

In the movie directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Ranbir Kapoor portrayed the character of an alpha male, Ranvijay. This sparked an ongoing debate about the behaviour of his character in the film. Shailesh Lodha has weighed in on this discussion, taking a jibe at the filmmakers. During an interview with Aaj Tak, he said that it has become a current trend for the alpha male character not to show any signs of vulnerability or emotion, indirectly criticising the portrayal in the film.

Shailesh Lodha stated, “Who says a man cannot cry? He should cry, must cry. The notion that a man shouldn’t cry is misguided. It indicates insensitivity or a loss of humanity. I cry. I shed tears while watching movies or witnessing sadness around me. Crying is a profound gift; it signifies our humanity. A person needs to cry”.

Shailesh Lodha shared his perspective on his future career and planning, stating that he isn’t making any concrete plans at the moment. He highlighted that nobody is envisioning anything, including himself. Throughout his journey, he never engaged in detailed planning but rather allowed himself to flow wherever life led him, guided by faith. He expressed a similar approach for the future. Additionally, he proceeded to recite some of the poems he had written.

Lodha initially gained fame as a contestant on Comedy Circus, later participating in Comedy ka Mahamukabla. He is best known for his portrayal of Taarak Mehta in the sitcom series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah from 2008 to 2022. Additionally, Lodha served as the main presenter on the TV program Wah! Wah! Kya Baat Hai! broadcasted on SAB TV during 2012-13. In 2019, he appeared in the comedy film Wig Boss alongside Sunil Pal and Rakhi Sawant.