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Disha Vakani Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth17 September 1978

Age46 Years

BirthplaceAhmedabad, Gujarat

ProfessionTheatre Artist, Actor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseMayur Padia

FamilyFather: Bhim Vakani; Brother: Mayur Vakani; Sister: Khushali Vakani; Children: Daughter (born 30 November 2017), Son (born 2022)

Disha Vakani Biography

Disha Vakani is an Indian theatre artist and actor best known for her long-running portrayal of Daya Jethalal Gada on the television sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka

Early life and background

Disha Vakani was born on 17 September 1978 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where she grew up and went to school. She attended Siddhartha High School in Ahmedabad and later studied at Gujarat College. Her formal training culminated in a graduation in dramatic arts, and she was introduced to Gujarati theatre at an early age by her father, who worked as a Gujarati theatre artist.

Career

Vakani began as a child performer on the Gujarati stage and continued to work in theatre throughout her early career. She acted in several notable Gujarati plays, including Kamal Patel v/s Dhamal Patel, Baa Retire Thai Che, Lali, and Jalsa Karo Jayantilal, sharing the stage with fellow actor Dilip Joshi in some productions.

Her on-screen debut came in 1997 with the film Kamsin: The Untouched, where she appeared as Pinky. Over the following years she took supporting parts in a number of Hindi films such as Phool Aur Aag (1999), Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), C Kkompany (2008) and Love Story 2050 (2008). She also acted in Gujarati films, including Pandadu Lilu Ne Rang Rato (1999) and Paiso Maro Parmeshwar (2002).

On television, Vakani appeared in small roles on shows including Shubh Mangal Savadhan (2002), Khichdi (2004), Instant Khichdi (2005), Hero – Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai (2005) and Aahat (2004). Her breakthrough came in 2008 when she began portraying Daya Jethalal Gada on the long-running SAB TV sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. The character became widely recognised and earned Vakani numerous awards and nominations across Indian television award programs.

Her work on the sitcom brought repeated recognition at the Indian Television Academy Awards and the Indian Telly Awards, with multiple wins for Best Actress in a Comic Role. She was also a recurring winner at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in the Favorite Actress – TV category and received other industry nominations and honours during her tenure on the show.

After becoming a mother, Vakani stepped away from regular shooting on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. There were reports about conditions discussed for a potential return and public attention when plans for her comeback were announced but did not materialise. In 2019 she appeared in the English short film Hale & Garlic as a broadcast hostess. Her screen work also includes appearances in television commercials and in modelling assignments.

Public profile

Vakani’s family background is rooted in the arts. Her father worked in Gujarati theatre, and her siblings include actor and sculptor Mayur Vakani and painter Khushali Vakani. She is married to Mayur Padia, a chartered accountant based in Mumbai; the couple married on 24 November 2015. They have two children: a daughter born on 30 November 2017 and a son born in 2022.

Disha Vakani is known to follow a regular yoga routine and has expressed a spiritual outlook. She has taken part in political campaigning at least once, and she launched a YouTube channel in 2020 that grew to several hundred thousand subscribers.

Over the years, she has been associated with brand endorsements and commercials for companies such as Patco, Canon and Nmart. Her on-screen chemistry with colleagues, notably Dilip Joshi, and the popularity of her Daya character contributed to a strong fan following.

Latest updates

As of an update from the show’s creator in January 2025, the producer announced that Vakani would not be returning to play Daya Ben on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and that another actress would be cast in the role.

Personal notes

Physically, Vakani is listed with a height around 161 cm (5 ft 3 in) and an approximate weight of 55 kg. Her eye colour is dark brown and her hair is black. She enjoys swimming, reading, travelling and watching theatre, and she has a tattoo of the Om symbol on her right biceps.

Quick facts

Disha Vakani remains an influential figure in Indian television comedy through her theatrical roots and the defining role she played on a show that reached wide audiences.
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Recent Work

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah

Played Daya Jethalal Gada on the SAB TV sitcom (2008); role made her widely recognised and won multiple awards.

2008
Hale & Garlic

English short film in which she appeared as a broadcast hostess.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Long-running portrayal of Daya Jethalal Gada on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (2008)
  2. Multiple wins for Best Actress in a Comic Role at Indian Television Academy Awards and Indian Telly Awards
  3. Appearances in Hindi and Gujarati films and sustained roots in Gujarati theatre
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Disha Vakani born?

17 September 1978

What is Disha Vakani known for?

Theatre Artist, Actor

What is Disha Vakani’s marital status?

Married

Who is Disha Vakani married to?

Mayur Padia