TV actor Kavi Kumar Azaad, who portrayed Dr Hathi in popular TV series 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah', died on Monday afternoon after suffering a cardiac arrest.

According to reports, Kavi Kumar was unwell since the past few days. The actor suffered a heart attack at a Mumbai hospital on Monday.

Azaad breathed his last this morning at Miraroad Wockhardt Hospital, the show's producer Asit Kumarr Modi, said in a statement.

"He was an amazing actor and a very positive person. He truly loved the show and always came for the shoots, even if he was not feeling well," Modi said.

"He called today morning that he is not well and will not be able to come for shoot. And later we got the news that he passed away. We are all too numb to say anything," he added.

Dr Hathi has been one of the most iconic characters on the show, which has been ruling the TRP charts since time immemorial. In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say that Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is perhaps the only comedy show to find a place in the top 10 shows list.

Azaad replaced actor Nirmal Soni as Dr Hathi, who played the role for a year since the show's inception, in 2009.

We express our heartiest condolences to the bereaved family. His presence will be missed!