The sudden demise of Kavi Kumar Azad has left his colleagues distraught but as producer Asit Kumarr Modi says, the show must go on
Avinash Lohana and Lata Mishra (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 10, 2018)

Kavi Kumar Azad, popularly known as Dr Hansraj Hathi of SAB TV’s popular sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC) passed away on Monday following cardiac arrest. A source from the show’s team informed that the veteran actor had complained of uneasiness and had been rushed to Wockhardt Hospital in Mira Road. The funeral will take place today.

Ravi Hirwani, centre head, Wockhardt Hospital, informed that Azad had been brought in around 12.10 pm. They couldn’t find a pulse so rushed him into emergency and tried to give him cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). “His ECG was flat, and we eventually declared him dead on arrival,” said Hirwani, adding that Azad’s brother told them that since the last three-four days he was having severe respiratory problems and had struggled with hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea disorder since a while. “He was under the care of a local chest physician. We could have saved his life if he had been brought to the hospital the day he started complaining of breathing difficulty.”

The producer of the show, Asit Kumarr Modi, corroborated that Azad hadn’t been feeling well since the last few days and once had even left the shoot early. “On Monday morning he called to inform that he wouldn’t be able to make it to work. He had been really unwell in 2009, but after that he’d been healthy and happy, mingling with everyone on the sets and the news of his death came as a shock to us,” Asit admitted, recalling that whenever he asked Azad’s how he was doing, he would reply with a big smile, “No complaints at all.’

Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, renowned bariatric surgeon at Saifee Hospital, had operated on Azad seven years ago. He remembered him as a guy with a lot of laughs who’d fought hard against obesity. “Sadly, he once told me that his job needed him to be obese, but he was aware that it put him at risk. We managed to save him when he was brought into the casualty ward of Saifee Hospital seven years in a near-fatal condition. He weighed around 265 kg then,” informed Dr Lakhdawala.

The role that made Azad a household name, was earlier being played by Nirmal Soni. “However, because of date issues the collaboration didn’t last long, and we were looking for a replacement. That’s when our creative advisor, Daya Shankar Pandey, who plays Inspector Chalu Pandey in the show, suggested Azad’s name. When I met him, I was really impressed and immediately got him on board,” Asit recalled.

Originally from Bihar, Azad had also dabbled in films, featuring in the Aamir Khan and Twinkle Khanna-starrer Mela and in Imtiaz Punjabi’s Fun2shh... Dudes in the 10th Century. “He was a shayar and could play the guitar really well. All of us are extremely upset because we have been working together for many years and have become like family,” he reasoned.

Ambika Ranjankar who played Azad’s onscreen wife Komal remembered him as a multi-talented, positive person. “He was the heart and soul of the team. I still can’t believe he is gone,” she said emotionally.

Meanwhile, Dilip Joshi, who plays the show’s lead, Jethalal Champaklal Gada, is in London and equally shocked. “His ‘Good Morning’ messages would come every day without fail and did right till Sunday. He had some health issues because of his weight, but he was always a happy-go-lucky guy and was doing well. I’m trying to wrap up my commitments here so that I can fly back to Mumbai as soon as possible. I’m really going to miss him,” said Dilip.

TMKOC which premiered on July 28, 2008 will complete a decade of being on air towards the month-end. The makers were planning a celebration to mark the occasion “We are yet to take a call on that, but as they say, the show must go on. Hathi bhai too believed that and I know his wishes are with us. He had bought his own apartment recently and really had no complaints with life,”Asit said.

The yesteryear heartthrob, whose weight had shot up to more than 120 kg, underwent bariatric surgery on Friday at a city hospital
Shubha Shetty-Saha (MID-DAY; July 27, 2014)

Make hay while the sun shines. This adage describes the trajectory of stars who are revered by fans and filmmakers alike when they are young. But things take a different turn when they start ageing and movie offers dwindle. Matters get worse if a heroine, once known for her gorgeous face and svelte figure, shuns the media and prefers to stay behind closed doors as she becomes a shadow of her former glory due to a health issue.

This was the case with yesteryear heartthrob Reena Roy. According to sources, the actor, who delivered hits such as Asha, Sanam Teri Kasam, Nagin and Kalicharan in 1970s and 1980s, underwent bariatric surgery on Friday afternoon to regain her former glory. She reportedly checked into Saifee hospital at Charni Road on Friday afternoon and the surgery was successful. When contacted, Head, Department of Minimal Access and Bariatric Surgery at Saifee Hospital, Dr Muffazal Lakdawala confirmed that Roy had been admitted to the hospital under his supervision but refused to divulge further details. “She was admitted but I cannot reveal why,” he told SUNDAY mid-day.

Health issues
Roy, who debuted in 1972 and went on to act in Hindi cinema for the next 13 years, had become obese due to inactivity and a niggling health issue. After a hiatus, she returned to Bollywood as a character actor in the ’ 90s. But a health issue kept her from working since 2000. After 2006-2007, Roy stopped stepping out of the house and attending events.

A source close to the Roy family said, “Reenaji has avoided being photographed since several years. She wants the world to know her as she was and not what she is now. Over the last couple of years, her sister Barkha had been requesting her to undergo bariatric surgery done under the supervision of their family friend and bariatric surgeon, Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, but Reenaji was hesitant. She finally complied now.” Roy, who was known as much for her beauty as for her acting chops and dancing skills was unavailable for comment.

When contacted, her sister Barkha denied the surgery news. She said, “Dr Lakdawala is our neighbour and a family friend. My sister has gone just for a routine check-up. There is nothing more to it.” According to sources, Roy’s popularity does not seem to have faded with time along with patients, she had many visitors at the hospital who were thrilled to have her amid them. They reportedly walked into her room to request her for autographs and photographs.

Bariatric surgery
This procedure is recommended for patients who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 35 to 40 and suffer from diseases such as diabetes and cardiac problems. Weight loss is achieved by reducing the size of the stomach with a gastric band.

Follow up: The patient stays in the hospital overnight. The surgery requires a life-long follow up.
Cost: Rs 3 lakh. Diet plan usually for patients who undergo bariatric surgery:
Weeks 1 and 2: Liquid diet
Weeks 3 and 4: Semi solid diet
Weeks 5 and 6: Soft solid diet
Week 7 onward: Normal diet (with necessary restrictions)

‘No dangers involved’
When asked about the dangers involved in getting bariatric surgery done, Dr Lakdawala said that it is one of the safest surgeries. “The mortality rate of a patient undergoing bariatric surgery is as low as 0.01 per cent.
Bariatric surgery is not just a cosmetic procedure it is necessary because it reduces a lot of diseases that obesity brings with itself. It helps a person control diabetes, hypertension and a host of other diseases. It is a myth that bariatric surgery leads to complications,” he said.