Rohitashv Gour on Shilpa Shinde’s exit from Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain, says ‘We were shaken, the craze for her was at the level of Smriti Irani'

The popular comedy show Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain has enjoyed massive success over the years but has also faced its share of controversies. One of the biggest controversies was actress Shilpa Shinde’s sudden exit from the show. Shilpa, who played the much-loved character Angoori Bhabhi, had a huge fan following. Her decision to quit the show at the peak of her career shocked not only her fans but also her co-stars and the television industry.In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Rohitashv Gour, who plays Manmohan Tiwari in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain, opened up about the situation. When asked if Shilpa’s exit shook the system of the show, Rohitashv agreed. He said, “A huge system was shaken. It seemed like the show would be closed. Shilpa had such a strong fan following that even political parties in Delhi were trying to attract her. At that time, the craze for her was at the level of Smriti Irani. When she left the show, we were shaken and very upset.”Rohitashv recalled that Shilpa left during a time when even Bollywood celebrities were praising the show. He mentioned that actors like Salman Khan, Johnny Lever, Prem Chopra, and Anil Dhawan had personally called Asif Sheikh to appreciate the series. Reflecting on that phase, he said, “What’s left of the Bhabhi Ji serial if Bhabhi Ji leaves it?”The actor further shared that the chaos surrounding her exit was overwhelming. Shilpa even went on to associate with a political party and claimed that she had faced injustice. Rohitashv admitted that the rumours spreading everywhere during that time made him feel even more upset.Explaining the possible reasons for Shilpa’s exit, Rohitashv said it came down to a disagreement with the producers over dates. He revealed, “Perhaps she had to do some other project as well. She wanted to manage another project along with the show, but it was not possible. Bhabi Ji required her to shoot 22 days a month. In such a situation, how could anyone allow her to do another show?”What hurt the cast most, Rohitashv added, was the way Shilpa left without informing them in advance. He concluded, “Shilpa didn’t even let us know she was leaving the show until the next day when we found out she had left. This was a huge shock to all of us.”