Rotund Dr Haathi of Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashma succumbed to a fatal heart attack earlier today.

Kavi Kumar Azaad, who plays Dr Haathi in the popular sitcom Taarak… passed away today morning, just before he was to attend a meeting of the entire star cast of Taarak… along with the producer of the show.

Kavi Kumar had informed the producer that he will not be attending the meeting, as per sources. He was unwell and sought to excuse himself. A couple of hours later, he suffered a massive heart attack which took his life.

Asit Kumar Modi, the producer of the show said that the entire crew was too numb to say anything. “Kavi was an amazing actor and a very positive person. He loved the show and would also attend shootings even when he was not well.

Azaad, a household name as Dr Haathi, has also acted in a few films, viz. Aamir Khan’s Mela and Funtoosh.

On the 28th of June, the longest running sitcom Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashma celebrated not the end of 2500 episodes, but moving towards the show’s 5000th episode.