# Bhavya Gandhi (ભાવ્ય ગાંધી)
**Bhavya Gandhi** (ભાવ્ય ગાંધી) is an Indian actor who works mainly in Hindi television and Gujarati cinema, best known for playing Tipendra "Tapu" [Jethalal Gada](https://www.edgepedia.org/jethalal-gada) in the sitcom *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah* from 2008 to 2017.
|---|---|
| Gujarati film debut | *Pappa Tamne Nahi Samjaay* (2017), directed by Dharmesh Mehta, with Manoj Joshi, Ketki Dave, and Johny Lever[1](https://nettv4u.com/entertainment/gujarati/article/top-10-actors-in-the-gujarati-film-industry) |
| Early film work | Child lead Suryakant in the Hindi film *Striker* (2010)[2](https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/tmkocs-og-tapu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-is-a-popular-gujarati-actor-commentator-and-travel-freak-now-42493/) |
| Awards | Indian Telly Award for Most Popular Child Artist (Male), 2010; Best Child Artist at the Zee Gold Awards[1](https://nettv4u.com/entertainment/gujarati/article/top-10-actors-in-the-gujarati-film-industry) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/bhavya-gandhi/1085452/) |
| Hindi film debut | *Kesari Veer* (2025), a period piece with Vivek Oberoi and Suniel Shetty[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-bhavya-gandhi-on-venturing-into-gujarati-films-and-his-upcoming-projects-i-am-excited-for-the-film-to-release-and-show-a-different-side-of-me/articleshow/115327035.cms) |
| Other work | Prabhas Khanna, a negative role, in *Pushpa Impossible* (2022)[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-bhavya-gandhi-on-playing-prabhas-in-pushpa-impossible-i-had-never-imagined-myself-in-a-negative-role/photostory/114248083.cms) |
## Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Gandhi joined *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah*, a comedy on SAB TV, at its start in 2008 and played Tapu, the leader of the young friend group known as the "Tapu Sena," for about nine years.[2](https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/tmkocs-og-tapu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-is-a-popular-gujarati-actor-commentator-and-travel-freak-now-42493/) His on-screen banter with Dilip Joshi, who played his father Jethalal, was a popular element of the show.[6](https://www.aajtak.in/visualstories/entertainment/tarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashma-original-tappu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-look-is-completely-changed-famous-child-actor-is-now-became-a-gujarati-film-actor-tmovh-50687-21-07-2023) The role made him a household name, and in 2010 he received the Indian Telly Award for Most Popular Child Artist (Male).[1](https://nettv4u.com/entertainment/gujarati/article/top-10-actors-in-the-gujarati-film-industry)**Leaving the show.** He quit in 2017. In a [Hindustan Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindustan-times) interview that year he said the main reason was that he "was not getting the kind of growth that a character ideally should get," and that he wanted to do something new and different.[7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/there-was-no-growth-in-my-character-bhavya-gandhi-on-quitting-tarak-mehta-ka-oolta-chashma/story-iJFkOsgmzoardjCRMimBfL.html) In later interviews he described the work as monotonous, saying he had grown bored of playing one character for nine years and wanted to explore life and try something new.[6](https://www.aajtak.in/visualstories/entertainment/tarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashma-original-tappu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-look-is-completely-changed-famous-child-actor-is-now-became-a-gujarati-film-actor-tmovh-50687-21-07-2023) He has said he would be open to a special appearance if the opportunity arose.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-tellyblazer-bhavya-gandhi-reacts-to-reports-of-being-ousted-from-taarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashmah-due-to-unprofessional-behaviour/articleshow/80254691.cms)
## Gujarati cinema and later work
Even before leaving the sitcom, a Gujarati film was in the works: Dharmesh Mehta, who had directed the first 500 episodes of *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah*, cast him in *Pappa Tamne Nahi Samjaay*, released in August 2017.[7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/there-was-no-growth-in-my-character-bhavya-gandhi-on-quitting-tarak-mehta-ka-oolta-chashma/story-iJFkOsgmzoardjCRMimBfL.html) • [9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Bhavya-Gandhi/filmography)
He followed it with a steady run of Gujarati films: *Baap Kamaal Dikro Dhamaal* (2018), *Bau Na Vichaar* (2019), *Tari Sathe* (2021), *Kehvatlal Parivar* (2022), and *Ajab Raat Ni Gajab Vaat* (2024), alongside short films such as *Fidget Spinner*.[2](https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/tmkocs-og-tapu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-is-a-popular-gujarati-actor-commentator-and-travel-freak-now-42493/) • [9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Bhavya-Gandhi/filmography) In 2022 he took a cameo as Prabhas Khanna in *Pushpa Impossible*, a negative role he said was outside his comfort zone.[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-bhavya-gandhi-on-playing-prabhas-in-pushpa-impossible-i-had-never-imagined-myself-in-a-negative-role/photostory/114248083.cms)
**Hindi cinema.** In 2025 he appeared in *Kesari Veer*, a Hindi period action drama with [Vivek Oberoi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vivek-oberoi) and [Suniel Shetty](https://www.edgepedia.org/suniel-shetty), which he described as his Bollywood debut; he particularly enjoyed the action sequences.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-bhavya-gandhi-on-venturing-into-gujarati-films-and-his-upcoming-projects-i-am-excited-for-the-film-to-release-and-show-a-different-side-of-me/articleshow/115327035.cms) • [10](https://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/stepping-into-something-different/81892500.html) His filmography also lists *Get Set Go* (2026), a Gujarati film in which he appears as Chintan.[11](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/bhavya-gandhi?context.unit=HC)
## Public profile beyond acting
Gandhi has worked outside film and television as well. He was named brand ambassador for a voter awareness campaign during the 2022 Gujarat legislative election, and has appeared as a commentator in Gujarati during an IPL match.[6](https://www.aajtak.in/visualstories/entertainment/tarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashma-original-tappu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-look-is-completely-changed-famous-child-actor-is-now-became-a-gujarati-film-actor-tmovh-50687-21-07-2023) In interviews he has described himself as a writer and poet and has said he hopes to publish his writing; he has also said he is now open to working in any medium, including theater, television, short films, and web shows.[12](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/forever-grateful-for-tapu-but-its-time-people-knew-me-beyond-tmkoc-bhavya-gandhi/articleshow/105407071.cms)
He has spoken about the difficulty child actors face in being accepted as grown-up leads, saying that a child actor has to struggle to get lead roles after growing up, but that being happy with one's work is what matters.[6](https://www.aajtak.in/visualstories/entertainment/tarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashma-original-tappu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-look-is-completely-changed-famous-child-actor-is-now-became-a-gujarati-film-actor-tmovh-50687-21-07-2023) While grateful for Tapu, he has said he wants audiences to know him beyond that character.[12](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/forever-grateful-for-tapu-but-its-time-people-knew-me-beyond-tmkoc-bhavya-gandhi/articleshow/105407071.cms)
## References
1. [Top 10 Actors in the Gujarati Film Industry Worth Watching – Nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/entertainment/gujarati/article/top-10-actors-in-the-gujarati-film-industry)
2. [TMKOC's 'OG Tapu' AKA Bhavya Gandhi Is A Popular Gujarati Actor, Commentator And Travel Freak Now – BollywoodShaadis](https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/tmkocs-og-tapu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-is-a-popular-gujarati-actor-commentator-and-travel-freak-now-42493/)
3. [Bhavya Gandhi – BookMyShow profile](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/bhavya-gandhi/1085452/)
4. [Exclusive: Bhavya Gandhi on venturing into Gujarati films and his upcoming projects – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-bhavya-gandhi-on-venturing-into-gujarati-films-and-his-upcoming-projects-i-am-excited-for-the-film-to-release-and-show-a-different-side-of-me/articleshow/115327035.cms)
5. [Exclusive: Bhavya Gandhi on playing Prabhas in Pushpa Impossible – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-bhavya-gandhi-on-playing-prabhas-in-pushpa-impossible-i-had-never-imagined-myself-in-a-negative-role/photostory/114248083.cms)
6. [कितना बदल गए 'तारक मेहता' के 'टप्पू'? – Aaj Tak](https://www.aajtak.in/visualstories/entertainment/tarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashma-original-tappu-aka-bhavya-gandhi-look-is-completely-changed-famous-child-actor-is-now-became-a-gujarati-film-actor-tmovh-50687-21-07-2023)
7. [There was no growth in my character: Bhavya Gandhi on quitting Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma – Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/there-was-no-growth-in-my-character-bhavya-gandhi-on-quitting-tarak-mehta-ka-oolta-chashma/story-iJFkOsgmzoardjCRMimBfL.html)
8. [Exclusive Tellyblazer: Bhavya Gandhi reacts to reports of being ousted from TMKOC – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-tellyblazer-bhavya-gandhi-reacts-to-reports-of-being-ousted-from-taarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashmah-due-to-unprofessional-behaviour/articleshow/80254691.cms)
9. [Bhavya Gandhi filmography – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Bhavya-Gandhi/filmography)
10. [Stepping into something different – Ahmedabad Mirror](https://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/stepping-into-something-different/81892500.html)
11. [Bhavya Gandhi Movies and TV Shows – Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/bhavya-gandhi?context.unit=HC)
12. [Forever grateful for Tapu, but it's time people knew me beyond TMKOC: Bhavya Gandhi – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/forever-grateful-for-tapu-but-its-time-people-knew-me-beyond-tmkoc-bhavya-gandhi/articleshow/105407071.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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