Senior TV actor Sameer Khakhar, best known for his iconic character Khopdi in the TV show ‘Nukkad’, passed away at the age of 70 due to multiple organ failure on Tuesday in Mumbai. The news of his demise has left the TV fraternity in shock and grief.
Actor Pavan Malhotra, who worked with Khakhar in Nukkad, shared his memories of the talented actor, “He was extremely talented and added to every scene in the show. I remember in those days… we used to take three days to shoot an episode. All our characters are remembered even today, especially Khopdi. Sameer was a talented and fun-loving guy.”
Khakhar’s last TV appearance was in the show ‘Sanjivani 2’, where he played the role of the lead actor’s uncle, a character who was childlike and had a tendency to forget things. The show’s producer, Siddharth P Malhotra, expressed his sorrow at Khakhar’s demise and shared, “When this character was written, we wanted to cast only him. Whatever scenes he had in the show lifted the quality of the show. His passing away is sad and heartbreaking.”
Director Hansal Mehta also expressed his condolences on Twitter, “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.”
Khakhar’s contribution to the Indian TV industry and his unforgettable character ‘Khopdi’ will always be remembered by his fans and colleagues.
