Quick answer: Raj Anadkat is an Indian television actor best known for playing Tapu (Tipendra Jethalal Gada) in the Sony SAB sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah from March 2017 to December 2022, after Bhavya Gandhi left the role. In July 2024 he made his Gujarati television debut as Keshav in Colors Gujarati’s United States of Gujarat.
Who is Raj Anadkat?
Raj Anadkat became a household name in 2017, when he took over one of the best-known roles on Indian family television: Tapu, the mischievous son of Jethalal and Daya Gada in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (often shortened to TMKOC). The sitcom had already been on air for almost nine years, and viewers had watched the original Tapu, Bhavya Gandhi, grow up on screen. Raj Anadkat played the character for nearly six years before leaving the show in December 2022.
Raj Anadkat: profile at a glance
- Name: Raj Anadkat
- Occupation: television actor
- Best known for: Tapu (Tipendra Jethalal Gada) in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, 2017-2022
- Latest confirmed show: United States of Gujarat (Colors Gujarati, from July 2024), as Keshav
- Date of birth: published sources disagree (see below)
An earlier version of this article gave his date of birth as 27 December 1997, his age as 19, his birthplace as Saurashtra in Gujarat and his zodiac sign as Libra. Published profiles do not agree on these details: his IMDb entry, for example, gives 7 November 1996 and Mumbai, and Libra matches neither date. Because we could not confirm his date or place of birth from a reliable source, we have not stated an age. The earlier version also listed a height, a weight, a Bachelor of Mass Media degree, hobbies and social-service work that we could not verify, so those details have been removed.
Early television work
Before TMKOC, Raj Anadkat worked in television drama. His IMDb entry lists him as Nishant Sethia in Sony Entertainment Television’s Ek Rishta Saajhedari Ka (2016-17). An earlier version of this article also said he appeared in Zing’s Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and was invited to the Indian Television Academy (ITA) Awards; we could not confirm either from a reliable source.
Raj Anadkat as Tapu in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is a Hindi family sitcom produced by Asit Kumarr Modi’s Neela Film Productions. It premiered on 28 July 2008 on SAB TV (now Sony SAB) and is based on Duniya Ne Undha Chashma, the humour column that writer Taarak Mehta wrote for the Gujarati magazine Chitralekha. The show is set in the fictional Gokuldham Society in Mumbai.
Replacing Bhavya Gandhi (2017)
Bhavya Gandhi played Tapu from the show’s launch in 2008 until 2017. In early March 2017, the makers announced Raj Anadkat as the new Tapu; The Indian Express reported on 4 March 2017 that he would play the character as a college student. Raj Anadkat later marked 3 March 2017 as the day his journey with the show began, in an Instagram post on his third anniversary in March 2020, in which he thanked producer Asit Modi, the team and viewers. For the 2017 news report on the change, read Raj Anadkat replaces Bhavya Gandhi as Tapu.
An earlier version of this article quoted a tweet in which he thanked Asit Modi for the role. We could not trace the original post, so the quote has been removed; his 2020 anniversary note carried a similar message of thanks.
Leaving the show (2022)
Raj Anadkat had been away from the show for some time when he confirmed his exit on Instagram on 6 December 2022, saying it was time to put the questions and speculation to rest and that his association with Neela Film Productions and the show had ended. He played Tapu for about five years and nine months. Since 2023, Tapu has been played by Nitish Bhaluni.
| Actor | Played Tapu |
|---|---|
| Bhavya Gandhi | 2008-2017 |
| Raj Anadkat | March 2017 – December 2022 |
| Nitish Bhaluni | 2023 onwards |
After Taarak Mehta: United States of Gujarat (2024)
In July 2024 Raj Anadkat made his Gujarati debut in United States of Gujarat, a daily show on Colors Gujarati that premiered on 15 July 2024. He plays Keshav, a positive, flamboyant character. Speaking to the press before the launch, he said he had taken inspiration from Ranveer Singh’s character in Jayeshbhai Jordaar, because the director had described Keshav as being like “Dwarka’s Ranveer Singh”.
We did not find reliable reports of newer projects as of October 2026. Check his official Instagram account for his latest work.
Raj Anadkat on social media
This is his profile as linked in the original article:
More TV biographies
The original article pointed readers to these profiles of other television personalities:
Frequently asked questions
Who played Tapu before Raj Anadkat?
Bhavya Gandhi, who played Tapu from the show’s start in 2008 until 2017.
When did Raj Anadkat join Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah?
In March 2017. He has given 3 March 2017 as the start of his journey with the show, and the makers’ announcement was reported on 4 March 2017.
Did Raj Anadkat leave Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah?
Yes. He confirmed on Instagram on 6 December 2022 that his association with the show had ended.
Who plays Tapu now?
Nitish Bhaluni has played Tapu since 2023.
What has Raj Anadkat done since leaving TMKOC?
His main confirmed project is the Colors Gujarati show United States of Gujarat, which began on 15 July 2024, with Raj Anadkat as Keshav.
Details checked in October 2026 against the show’s published cast history, The Indian Express (March 2017), India TV (March 2020), Filmibeat (December 2022) and Koimoi (July 2024). Personal details that could not be verified have been removed.
5 comments
I AM STUDENT AND MY PLACE DURGAPUR
And Tarak mehta ka ooltah chasmah my best show and auditi work and Tarak mehta ka ooltah chasmah please ek bar muka deker dekho..
Welcome New Tapu ( Raj )
CONGRATULATIONS
Good Luck.
No one can take place of bhavya gandhi… HE WAS BEST .. HE IS BEST.. HE WILL BE BEST……
Plzzz ek bar mujbe bhi moka do big boss ke ghar me jane ka
Anupam singh
Theatre actor From new tapu is awesome.