Veteran actor Sameer Khakhar, best known for essaying the role of Khopdi in the hit ’80s TV show ‘Nukkad’, passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 71.
According to reports, the actor – who was featured in a number of movies and TV shows, died of multiple organ failure in a Mumbai hospital.
The late actor’s younger brother Ganesh Khakhar said that he was taken to MM Hospital in Borivali, Mumbai, after he complained of respiratory issues.
The ‘Nukkad’ star was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit, but collapsed after suffering multiple organ failure.
“He had respiratory problems since yesterday and later he went into an unconscious state, so we called the doctor at home and he asked us to hospitalise him. He was admit ..to the intensive care unit of MM Hospital. Slowly and gradually, he suffered multiple organ failure, he was unconscious and then he collapsed. He passed away at 4.30 am today,” Ganesh was quoted as saying to PTI.
Director Hansal Mehta recalled his college days and said his close friends continue to call him Khopdi after Khakhar’s iconic character.
“For some reason, I was nicknamed Khopdi in college after his iconic character in Nukkad. My closest friends from the time still call me Khopdi. But I guess it’s time to say goodbye to the OG. Goodbye Sameer Khakhar. Thank you for the memories,” he wrote.
“He was such a cute and strong memory of growing up years, in the ’80s Golden era of Dooradarshan especially as Khodi in Nukkad, became a household name. ‘Pushpak’ was another favourite memory. Unfortunately, got type casted,” he wrote
The late actor was also a part of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s 1989 TV series ‘Circus’. He played the role of Chintamani in the TV show.
Khakhar’s notable work also includes the popular 1994 sitcom ‘Shrimaan Shrimati’, in which he played the role of film director Toto. The DD metro TV show featured Rakesh Bedi, Jatin Kanakia, Reema Lagoo and Archana Puran Singh in key roles.
His filmography includes movies like Kamal Haasan’s ‘Pushpak’ (1987), Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor-led ‘Parinda’ (1989), Ajay Devgn and Suniel Shetty’s ‘Dilwale’ (1994), Salman Khan-starrer ‘Jai Ho’ (2014), Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra’s ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’ (2014), Sudhir Mishra-directorial ‘Serious Men’ (2020). Director Vikas Bahl’s web series ‘Sunflower’ marks the OTT debut for Khakhar.
