Sodhi (the loud Punjabi mechanic) and Madhavi (the quiet South Indian jewelry designer) are a study in opposites. Sodhi is all “Balle Balle” and over-the-top energy; Madhavi is calm, artistic, and often exasperated. Their romance is built on teasing and tolerance.
Sodhi constantly tries to inject romance into their life—buying expensive gifts, planning surprise dates—only for Madhavi to roll her eyes and give in with a smile. Their storyline shows that love survives not despite arguments, but because of the laughter that follows them.
The show’s central "romance" is actually an absence. Jethalal (the protagonist) and Daya (his wife) have been separated for years due to the actress’s departure. In any other show, this would be a dramatic separation track. In TMKOC, Daya is simply "visiting her mother in Ahmedabad" for nearly a decade. taarak mehta ka ooltah chashmah anjali sex image
Their "relationship" now exists purely through phone calls where Daya shouts, "Hey Mamaji, Jethalal!" Their romance is dead, replaced by nostalgia. Jethalal’s longing glances at her photo are less about passion and more about the comfort of a routine he has lost.
The most famous (and infamous) romantic thread of TMKOC is Jethalal’s one-sided infatuation with his neighbor, Babita Ji. On paper, this is a problematic premise: a married man obsessing over another woman. Yet, the show has skillfully kept it clean. Sodhi (the loud Punjabi mechanic) and Madhavi (the
Jetha’s "love" for Babita is portrayed as pure, harmless admiration—more like a fan meeting their favorite heroine. Every time Babita calls out “Jetha-ji!” he freezes, his eyes widen, and he stumbles over his “Haan Ji, Babita-ji.” The comedy comes from his inevitable failure, whether it’s trying to impress her with a new phone, gifting her a saree (which Daya ends up wearing), or trying to prove he is a better husband than Iyer.
Why it works: The storyline never crosses the line. Babita is eternally loyal to Iyer, and Jethalal’s love for his wife Daya is never in question. His crush is a running gag—a metaphor for the “greener grass” that is fun to look at but not worth having. Sodhi constantly tries to inject romance into their
No article on TMKOC romance can ignore the glaring hole: Jethalal and Daya Ben. For years, Daya (Disha Vakani) has been on a "break" to Ahmedabad. Their romance was unique—Jetha’s boisterousness clashed with Daya’s iconic "Hey Maa Mataji!" and her rolling pin. She was the only one who could control Jetha.
The current storyline suffers because the primary romantic relationship of the protagonist is in limbo. While Jetha pines for Babita for comedy, his actual marriage to Daya is left unresolved. This has become the show’s Achilles' heel. Fans crave the return of the Jetha-Diya chemistry—the teasing, the gol-gappas, and the way she called him "Jethiya".