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.