Disha Vakani Wiki, Height, Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More

Disha Vakani is an Indian theatre artist and film & TV actor. She is known for playing the role of Daya Jethalal Gada aka Dayaben in the popular Hindi sitcom ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ (2008), which aired on SAB TV.

Wiki/Biography

Disha Vakani was born on Sunday, 17 September 1978 ^[1]Facebook – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (age 45 years; as of 2023) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Her zodiac sign is Virgo.

She did her schooling at Siddhartha High School, Ahmedabad. She pursued her graduation in Dramatic Arts at Gujarat College, Gujarat. ^[2]Mumbai Mirror

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 3″

Weight (approx.): 55 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Dark Brown

Figure Measurement(s): 34-30-34

Family

She belongs to a Gujarati Jain family. ^[3]Telly Chakkar

Parents & Siblings

Her father, Bhim Vakani, is a Gujarati theatre artist. Her brother, Mayur Vakani, is an actor and sculptor. Her sister, Khushali Vakani, is a painter.

Husband & Children

On 24 November 2015, she got married to the Mumbai-based chartered accountant Mayur Padia at Sun-n-Sand Hotel in Mumbai.

On 30 November 2017, the couple was blessed with a baby girl named Stuti Padia. In 2022, she gave birth to a baby boy.

Career

Theatre

She started her career as a theatre artist with the children’s theatre plays. She has worked in various Gujarati theatre plays like Kamal Patel v/s Dhamal Patel, Baa Retire Thai Che, Lali, and Jalsa Karo Jayantilal (along with Dilip Joshi).

Film

Hindi

In 1997, she made her Hindi film debut with the film ‘Kamsin: The Untouched’ (a B-grade film) as Pinky.

She has appeared in a few other Hindi films like ‘Phool Aur Aag’ (1999), ‘Mangal Pandey: The Rising’ (2005), ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ (2008), ‘C Kkompany’ (2008), and ‘Love Story 2050’ (2008).

Gujarati

She has also acted in a few Gujarati films such as ‘Pandadu Lilu Ne Rang Rato’ (1999) and ‘Paiso Maro Parmeshwar’ (2002).

TV

Disha has played small roles in various Hindi TV serials like ‘Shubh Mangal Savadhan’ (2002; Sahara One), ‘Khichdi’ (2004; Star Plus), ‘Instant Khichdi’ (2005; Star One), ‘Hero – Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai’ (2005; Hungama TV), and ‘Aahat’ (2004; Sony).

She gained immense popularity with her role as Daya Jethalal Gada in ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ (2008), aired on SAB TV.

Other Work

She has worked as a model in various photoshoots.

In 2019, she played the role of broadcast hostess in the English short film ‘Hale & Garlic.’ She has been featured in various TV commercials like Patco, Canon, and NMart.

 

Awards

For the Hindi sitcom ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,’ she has won many awards and has been nominated several times which includes:

Indian Television Academy Awards

• 2008: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2009: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2012: Nominated for Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2012: Nominated for Best Actress – Popular

• 2014: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2014: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2015: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2016: Nominated for Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2017: Nominated for Best Actress in a Comic Role

Indian Telly Awards

• 2009: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2010: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2012: Nominated for Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2013: Nominated for Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2013: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2014: Won Best Actress in a Comic Role

• 2015: Nominated for Best Actress in a Comic Role

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards

• 2013: Won Favorite Actress – TV

• 2016: Won Favorite Actress – TV

• 2017: Won Favorite Actress – TV
  

  Disha Vakani with her award

• 2021: Nominated for Favorite Actress – TV

Other Awards

• 2011: Nominated for Apsara Film Producers Guild Award for Best Actress – TV

• 2011: Won Lions Gold Award for Favourite Actress in a Comic Role in a Television Serial
  

  Disha Vakani with her Lions Gold Award

• 2012: Won Sab Ke Anokhe Award for Anokhi Boli

Tattoo

A tattoo of Om (in Hindi) on her right bicep.

Net Worth

Reportedly, while she was working in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, she charged around Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per episode. ^[4]Koimoi

Favourites

• Actor(s): Dilip Joshi, Charlie Chaplin, Sanjeev Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Boman Irani

• Actress(es): Madhuri Dixit, Rekha

• Character from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: Jethalal played by Dilip Joshi

• Street Food: Vada Pav

Facts/Trivia

• At a very young age, she was introduced to Gujarati theatre by her father.

• She is a spiritual person and often visits various religious places.
  

  Disha Vakani with an idol of lord Krishna

• In her leisure time, she enjoys watching theatre plays, reading, swimming, and travelling with her family.
  

  Disha Vakani during her trip

• A YouTube channel with her name was started in 2020, and the channel has around 396k subscribers.
  

  Disha Vakani’s YouTube channel

• She once campaigned for BJP.
  

  Disha Vakani in a political campaign

• Her role as Daya in the Hindi TV series Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma became so popular that even after four years of her exit, the makers could not find her replacement. Reportedly, after her marriage, her husband put down three conditions infront of the makers of the serial i.e. her fees would be Rs 1.5 lakhs per episode, she would work for 3 hours a day, and a personal nursery for their daughter with a nanny on the sets of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. ^[5]Koimoi

• The makers of Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma promised return of Daya in the TV series to the audience and even released a few episodes based on her comeback. However, their promises turned out to be fake and the netizens started #BoycottTMKOC on Twitter for fooling the public. ^[6]The Free Press Journal

• She regularly practices yoga to remain fit.

• The brother-sister Jodi of Sunderlal and Daya Gada in the serial Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma are real-life siblings.

• There were once rumours that as Disha had to change her voice for her character Daya in the serial, she developed symptoms of throat cancer. However, Disha’s brother called it fake news. ^[7]The Times of India