Kush Shah is back in the spotlight, but this time, it has nothing to do with Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. The actor, who spent 16 years playing the much-loved character Gulab Kumar ‘Goli’ Hathi, has now entered the world of YouTube with a rather unusual concept.
In his new videos, Kush approaches people on the streets of Mumbai and asks if he can visit their homes and cook for them. The unexpected move has left many fans curious about what the actor has been doing since leaving the sitcom in 2024.
So, who is Kush Shah, where was he born, what did he study and why did he leave Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah?
Who Is Kush Shah?
Kush Shah is an Indian actor best known for playing Goli Hathi in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. He joined the show as a child actor and grew up in front of the audience, eventually becoming one of the show’s most recognisable young characters.
Kush was born and brought up in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He attended school in Mumbai and later pursued higher education there before eventually moving to the United States for further studies. Public biographies identify Fatima High School as his school and SVKM’s Usha Pravin Gandhi College in Mumbai as one of the institutions he attended.
Unlike several actors who entered television after completing their education, Kush began working professionally while he was still a school student.
When Did Kush Shah Join Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah?
Kush became part of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah when he was in Class 5. In a later interview, he recalled starting work during his fifth-standard vacation. He spent the next 16 years growing up on the sets of the sitcom.
His character, Gulab Kumar Hathi, better known as Goli, is the son of Dr Hansraj Hathi and Komal Hathi. Goli was also a member of Tapu Sena, the group of young friends at the centre of several storylines.
For Kush, the show was more than just a television job. He spent much of his childhood and adolescence on its sets and developed close relationships with the cast and crew. He has particularly spoken about learning from actors such as Dilip Joshi, who played Jethalal, and Mandar Chandwadkar, who played Bhide. Kush said that working alongside senior actors from such a young age helped him understand acting and improvisation.
Why Did Kush Shah Leave Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah?
After 16 years on the show, Kush announced his exit in 2024. His decision was primarily connected to his desire to pursue higher studies and explore a different direction in life. His departure was emotional because TMKOC had essentially been part of his entire childhood and youth.
Speaking about the decision, Kush said he had reached a point where he felt he needed to “do something” beyond the show. “I miss being on sets because that is my home. But I had to take this decision for me because I turned 27 and I felt this is the time to do something,” he said during his appearance on Just Kidding with Sid.
He also acknowledged how difficult it was to leave an environment he had been part of for so long. “I love TMKOC, the people on the show, I genuinely love it and I was addicted to that environment,” he said.
What Did Kush Shah Study?
After leaving Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Kush moved to New York to pursue higher education. Multiple reports have described his studies as being related to international relations, with the actor discussing his move to New York and the experience of living independently abroad.
His transition was not always easy. Kush has described moving to New York as a “reality check”, particularly because he had to adjust to living independently and managing everyday responsibilities that were previously unfamiliar to him.
What Was Kush Shah’s Life Like Growing Up On TMKOC?
Kush essentially grew up on the show. He joined while he was still in school and remained associated with the sitcom through his teenage years and into adulthood. That meant audiences watched Goli grow up at almost the same time as Kush himself.
During interviews, he has described the sets as a second home and spoken warmly about the people he worked with. He also recalled shooting during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the cast and crew temporarily moved to Daman to continue production.
His years on the show also gave him opportunities to interact with some of Bollywood’s biggest names when they visited for film promotions.
One of his favourite memories involved Shah Rukh Khan. Kush recalled watching a Kolkata Knight Riders match in the superstar’s vanity van and remembered Khan ordering idlis at around 4 a.m.
What Has Kush Shah Said About His Childhood?
Kush has also spoken candidly about growing up in the public eye. In a podcast appearance, he discussed facing bullying and body-shaming as a child because of his weight. He said being a known actor offered him some protection, but that he still experienced negativity at school.
He has also spoken about his family, childhood experiences and his relationship with his father. In the same conversation, Kush discussed how his understanding of his parents changed as he grew older.
What Is Kush Shah Doing Now?
Kush has now added YouTube creator to his list of pursuits. His latest content revolves around food and interaction with strangers. In one of his videos, he can be seen approaching people in Mumbai and asking whether he can come to their homes and cook for them. Eventually, he is welcomed into a home, where he prepares food and serves it to the family.
When announcing his YouTube channel, Kush admitted that he had been thinking about creating content for a long time before finally taking the plunge. He described finally uploading his first video as a way of getting out of his own way.
Has Kush Shah Quit Acting?
Kush’s decision to leave Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah does not necessarily mean that he has permanently given up acting. His exit was described as a decision to pursue education and explore something different rather than a rejection of acting or the show itself.
Who Replaced Kush Shah As Goli?
After Kush left Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2024, the role of Goli was recast. The character continued on the show with a new actor, allowing the Hathi family and Tapu Sena storylines to continue even after Kush’s departure.
