Who Is Rupal Patel aka Kokilaben From The Viral 'Rasode Mein Kaun Tha' Rap?

All social media has been obsessed with this week is finding out the mystery behind who was in the rasoda that day. For the handful who are still uninitiated into this little secret that everyone everywhere is losing their minds over, a song by music producer Yashraj Mukhate has gone insanely viral on the internet for its remix of dialogues from the decade-old television soap Saath Nibhaana Saathiya. While Mukhate has garnered unprecedented fame for his whacky, catchy creation, the star of the moment is someone else. The woman in the video whose dialogues are the lyrics to the rap. The woman no one can stop talking about - Kokilaben.

Also Read: Rasode Mein Kaun Tha: How A Rap Turned Kokilaben And Her Bahus Into Internet Sensations

Rupal Patel, or Kokilaben as she has now been enshrined in pop culture legacy by, wouldn't ever have thought that fame would come to her by way of a rap song and viral memes. Her heavily-kohled eyes, slick hair, and admonishing voice are echoing everywhere on social media. Everyone knows that she had juice spilt on her saree, that she had to bathe a second time because of it, and that she was then looking for the culprit behind the empty cooker on the gas. But that's all everyone seems to know about Kokilaben. Let us tell you a bit more.

Rasode Mein Kaun Tha: A Little Background

Patel's magnum opus, the show that has assigned her a place in history as one of the greats, Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, premiered in 2010 and enjoyed a runtime of seven whole years (which, if placed within the larger picture of Hindi serials isn't that long a period). She played Kokila Modi, the matriarch of a Gujarati family, who was stern, but well-meaning. Her sons Ahem and Jigar were the apples of her eye, and her two bahus Gopi and Rashi, her factors of persistent annoyance.

But one can't blame her. Gopi washes laptops with detergent and water, while Rashi creates mischief by emptying cookers of chana and putting them on gas stoves in the rasoda. If I were in Kokila's place, I'd be annoyed too.

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Patel, who currently stars in Star Plus' Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke, a spinoff of the highly popular show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, isn't oblivious to the thundering response her rasoda scene has received. She apparently called Mukhate to tell him how much she loved his rap on her, and told India Today, "I am humbled and honoured... No doubt Kokila Modi is an iconic character but now this rap song will make her more memorable in people’s hearts."

About Rupal Patel aka Kokilaben

Patel, born in Mumbai, pursued a B.Com degree from the University of Mumbai before she stepped into the world of entertainment. She is trained in theatre and acting from Delhi's renowned National School of Drama, and now reportedly owns her own theatre group Panorama Art Theatres.

She has been an active campaign ambassador of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationwide cleanliness drive Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and according to reports, has even received honours from the PM himself.

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Looking At Rupal Patel's Career

Forty-five-year old Patel is a film and television actress, with a career that began in 1985 with her debut film Mehak. It was directed by Chander H. Bahl and starred other names like Ranjeet, Shoma Anand and Vijayendra Ghatge alongside Patel. She went on to do other films through the 90s, most notably in Shyam Benegal's films, including the award-winning Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda. 

Her tryst with television began in 2001 with Shagun, a popular afternoon soap that consistently boasted of high TVRs (rating points). Aside from Hindi shows, she also did a Gujarati one called Sau Dada Sasuna that ran in 2002. She has primarily been associated with Star Plus for the most part of her TV career.