Shilpa Shinde, who originally played Angoori Bhabhi in 2015 before exiting the show within a year, recently spoke to Telichakkar about Shubhangi Atre, who replaced her and portrayed the character for nearly a decade. While acknowledging Atre’s acting abilities, Shinde said comedy is “not everyone’s cup of tea” and suggested that playing a character previously established by another actor often results in imitation rather than originality.
The remarks drew a sharp response from Saurabh Raj Jain, who shared an Instagram story criticising the tone of Shinde’s comments without naming her directly. He wrote that when an actor who has entertained audiences for nearly 10 years is publicly judged by the original performer returning to the role, “the issue isn’t timing, it’s basic decency.” Jain added that he shared the message as a reminder that humility matters more than temporary success.
The controversy has surfaced as Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain prepares to launch a new season from December 22, 2025, marking Shinde’s comeback as Angoori Bhabhi. The show, which has been on air for over a decade, remains one of Indian television’s most successful comedy series.
Meanwhile, Shubhangi Atre responded to the situation in an interview with Bombay Times, striking a conciliatory note. Addressing her departure from the show, she said she was ending the “replacement game” and described inheriting the role from Shinde as receiving a “newborn” that she nurtured for 10 years. Atre said she was returning the character with “good values” and wished Shinde and the team well for the new season.
The exchange has reignited conversations around transitions in long-running television shows and the responsibility actors carry when discussing colleagues in public forums.
