The Sarabhai Secret: An Iconic Sitcom's Lavish Lies Revealed by Satish Shah

Ah, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. Just the name conjures images of Maya’s cutting wit, Monisha’s middle-class woes, Rosesh’s poetic angst, and Indravadan’s relentless teasing. It’s a show, you could say, that truly embedded itself into the fabric of Indian television, a sitcom that transcended mere entertainment to become a cultural touchstone. And at its heart, visually speaking, was that utterly fabulous, seemingly sprawling apartment in what everyone just knew was Buckley Court.

But hold on a minute. It turns out, our collective memory—and indeed, our long-held assumptions—might have been just a tad bit off. Because the venerable actor, Satish Shah, who, you remember, played the mischievous patriarch Indravadan Sarabhai, recently pulled back the curtain on one of the show's most enduring illusions. And honestly, it’s quite a revelation, shattering a beloved piece of TV lore.

You see, the Sarabhai family didn't actually reside in some plush apartment within Cuffe Parade’s esteemed Buckley Court at all. Nope. In a candid tweet that quickly went viral, Shah spilled the beans: that iconic, expansive set, the one we all imagined the Sarabhai clan bickering and bonding in? It was, in truth, a lavish bungalow tucked away in the very heart of Colaba, Mumbai. A whole different postcode, if you think about it.

And the cost? Well, brace yourself, because this is where it gets really eye-watering. The team, it seems, shelled out a staggering Rs 30 lakh per month to rent that grand Colaba residence. Yes, you read that right. Thirty whole lakhs. For ten months, as the show was being shot. One can only imagine the kind of budget they were working with to afford such a luxurious backdrop. It just adds another layer of 'affluent' to the already incredibly affluent Sarabhais, doesn’t it?

It’s funny, isn't it? For years, fans have debated, discussed, and even perhaps pointed out the supposed location to friends during Mumbai tours. But it was all, you could say, a masterful piece of cinematic misdirection. The magic of television, truly. We bought into the idea of a high-rise apartment, complete with its specific kind of urban grandeur, only for it to be a standalone bungalow, providing a different, perhaps more private, kind of opulence.

Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, which first graced our screens in 2004, then returned for a second run on Hotstar in 2017, was always celebrated for its sharp writing, stellar performances, and, yes, that distinct setting. This little tidbit from Satish Shah only adds to its legendary status, offering a fascinating peek behind the curtain of one of India’s most cherished sitcoms. It just goes to show, even the most familiar on-screen worlds often hide their own delightful secrets.