Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai is one of the most loved television shows in India and enjoys a massive fan following. The show has been making headlines after Shilpa Shinde, who famously played Angoori Bhabhi, returned to the show. The actress had earlier exited the series citing professional differences with the producers, which had sparked considerable buzz at the time. Her comeback has now once again become a major talking point among fans.
In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, producers Benaifer and Sanjay Kohli revealed the story behind Shilpa’s much-awaited return and shared insights about the show.
Here’s How Shilpa Shinde’s Return Came About
Shubhangi Atre stepped into the role of ‘Angoori Bhabhi’ after Shilpa Shinde’s exit and successfully carried
the character for nearly a decade. However, her departure in season two came as a surprise to many. Opening up about the decision, producer Benaifer Kohli explained that Shubhangi played a crucial role in keeping the show going for several years. She added that at a point when the show became stagnant, a change in the storyline was needed, and the channel suggested changing the actress as well.
Shilpa Shinde’s return, meanwhile, was deeply personal and emotional for the makers. Benaifer revealed that it was a promise she made to the show’s former writer, Manoj Santoshi, who passed away recently. During Manoj’s kidney transplant in Hyderabad, Shilpa stood by him constantly, taking care of him round the clock. “After what I saw Shilpa do for Manoj, I have decided that I will look after her lifelong.” Benaifer stated. Sanjay Kohli further explained that Manoj had expressed a heartfelt wish to see his ‘Angoori’ return to the show. He lovingly referred to Shilpa as Angoori, and therefore Benaifer promised Manoj to bring her back.
Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai 2 On A Budget Cut?
The second season has been receiving a lot of love, leaving the makers pleased with the response. Speaking about the decision to stream Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai on Zee5, Sanjay explained that the show performs exceptionally well on YouTube and brings strong business to the channel. He added that producing content for OTT platforms today can cost anywhere between Rs 1.5 to 2 crore, whereas Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai is made on a much more modest budget. Since the show is primarily produced for &TV, the budget structure remains aligned with television standards, regardless of its presence on OTT.
He further shared that television budgets are typically allocated in lakhs and mentioned that compared to what the show received in 2019, the current budget is nearly 20 percent lower.
