The sudden death of TV actor Kavi Kumar Azaad aka Dr Hansraj Hathi has left Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah team in a state of shock. The actor, who was one of the most loved characters in the popular show, passed away on Monday due to cardiac arrest. His funeral took place on July 10 in Mira Road, Mumbai where the entire Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah team was seen bidding a final farewell to the actor. Now, the producer of the serial Asit Kumarr Modi and team, has paid emotional tribute to Kavi Kumar Azaad.
Posted on the Instagram account of the famous Gokuldham society, the video clip begins with Asit saying: Our dear friend, Dr Hansraj Hathi, is no more with us. Life is eternal and love immortal. With his acting, Kavi Kumar Azad, has earned your affection. He will always be in our hearts. Flowers wilt but their fragrance stays on. (Hamare sabke saathi, Dr Hansraj Hathi, ab nahin rahe. Jeevan shashwat hai aur prem amar hai. Kavi Kumar Azad ne apne abhinay se aap sab ka sneh haasil kiya hai. Woh hamarey dil mein hamesha rahenge. Phul murjhaa jaate hain par uski mehak hamesha chaman mein mehekti rehti hai.)
Earlier, the maker issued an official statement and said, “We are very sad to inform loss of our senior actor Kavi Kumar Azaad. He was playing the character of Dr Hathi in TMKOC. We lost him to a massive cardiac arrest today morning.”
The last rites were done by his younger brother Ravi. Actors like Singh, Bhavya Gandhi, Shailesh Lodha, Shyam Pathak and Mandar Chandwarkar paid tribute to the actor at the crematorium.
Every member of the show was shocked and pained at the sudden demise of their colleague.
Kavi Kumar Azad played the role of Dr Hathi in Taarak Mehta for almost eight years, having replaced actor Nirmal Soni, who played the role for a year since the show’s inception, in 2009.