When TMKOC’s Jethalal aka Dilip Joshi drastically lost 16 kilos in a month and a half: ‘I would jog the whole way…’

"It used to be so much fun," added Dilip Joshi

New Delhi | July 7, 2025 07:30 PM IST

3 min read

When Dilip Joshi spoke about weight loss (Photo: Sony)

Veteran actor Dilip Joshi, best known for playing Jethalal in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, once spoke about his drastic weight loss — 16 kilos in one and a half months. “I used to go to work, change at the swimming club, and run across Marine Drive, until (the hotel) Oberoi in the rain, and go back. I would jog the whole way, and it used to take me 45 minutes. I lost 16 kgs in one and a half months,” he told Mashable India in 2023.

Speaking about working in the 1992 Gujarati film Hun Hunshi Hunshilal, which required him to get toned, Joshi recalled, “It used to be so much fun. The sun was setting, and there would be a slight drizzle. The clouds used to look so beautiful.”

While he admitted having a lot of fun, we asked an expert whether it is recommended.

Losing 16 kg in 45 days is certainly inspiring and reflects a person’s discipline. “That’s about 350 g body weight a day. While this rate may sound extreme, it becomes more plausible when someone has a high starting weight. For instance, someone weighing over 100 kg has more mass to mobilise for energy. An aggressive calorie deficit created by going on a very low-calorie diet and daily jogging can result in such rapid losses, at least early on,” said Varun Rattan, founder, Evolve Fitness.

Can jogging really help? (Photo: Freepik)

That said, this kind of transformation should not be taken as a one-size-fits-all template.

“Someone weighing 75 kg will not lose weight at the same pace with the same routine. And even if they somehow could, this would possibly lead to nutritional deficiencies along with muscle and bone mass loss,” noted Rattan, who also has expertise in nutritional sciences.

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“When the body is underfed for an extended period, it starts cannibalising its own internal reserves. It will break down muscle tissue for energy and leach essential nutrients like calcium from bones to maintain basic functions,” said Rattan.

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DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

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