After actor Kavi Azad’s untimely demise, Nirmal Soni, who played the role for a few episodes, steps in as his replacement
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 15, 2018)

Two months after actor Kavi Azad, who played Dr Hansraj Hathi in the longrunning comedy show, Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashmah, passed away, Nirmal Soni has been brought on board as his replacement for the popular character. Nirmal was the original Dr Hathi and was replaced by Kavi after a few episodes because of date problems.

A source from the show reveals, “The team had shortlisted two other actors too but they were not very convincing on camera and Nirmal was finalised a few days ago. The new Dr Hathi will be revealed in the Monday episode as Nirmal and his onscreen wife, Ambika Ranjankar, perform the first Ganesh aarti in the show this year.”

While Nirmal remained unavailable for comment, producer Asit Kumarr Modi confirmed the news, saying, “Yes Dr Hathi is making a comeback in the Ganesh special episodes.”

The show, which premiered on July 28, 2008, completed a decade of being on air this year.

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.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 10, 2018)

The week began on a note of mourning for the team of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Actor Kavi Kumar Azad, who played Dr Hansraj Hathi in the show, passed away on Monday after suffering a massive heart attack.

Confirming the news, Asit Kumarr Modi, the producer of the show, said, “He was a positive guy and suffered health issues due to his weight. He was on medication almost all the time. He told us that he was feeling weak, but we never expected to hear such tragic news about him.” The show’s shoot was immediately called off.

At the time of going to press, the cast and crew was planning to head to Kavi’s house to pay their last respects. “Kavi had been working with us for 10 years. He was like a family member and we couldn’t even think of shooting today. Everyone is saddened by his demise. His absence will be hugely felt when we resume work, whenever we do,” the producer said.

Kavi became a household name as character Dr Hathi, which is considered to be one of the most iconic characters on television. He had replaced actor Nirmal Soni for the part in 2009.