Veteran actor Sameer Khakhar, best known for his roles in TV shows such as Nukkad, died on today this morning, according to his brother Ganesh Khakhar. Sameer, who appeared in Salman Khan’s film Jai Ho, passed away as a result of multiple organ failure. According to reports, Sameer also had respiratory and urinary issues. He was 71.
“Veteran actor Sameer Khakhar, best known for his roles in TV shows such as Nukkad and Circus, has died at age 71 due to multiple organ failure, says his younger brother Ganesh Khakhar,” the news agency PTI tweeted.
Sameer Khakhar’s cousin, Ganesh Khakhar, said in an interview that “he was suffering from respiratory problems when he fell asleep and became unconscious. We called the doctor, and he suggested that we admit him to the hospital. His heart was not functioning properly, and he also had urinary problems. He was kept on a ventilator; gradually, he collapsed at 4:30 this morning.”
According to the report, Sameer Khakhar died at the MM Hospital in Mumbai’s Borivali, where he had been admitted. Sameer’s funeral will reportedly be held on Wednesday morning at Babhai Naka crematorium, in Borivali.
On Twitter, filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared photos of Sameer and paid tribute to him. “For some reason, I was nicknamed Khopdi in college after his iconic character in Nukkad,” he wrote. My childhood friends still refer to me as Khopdi. But I guess it’s time to say goodbye to the OG. Goodbye, Sameer Khakhar. “I appreciate the memories.”
Sameer Khakhar had experience in both the television and film industries. He appeared on Nukkad, Manorajan, Circus, Naya Nukkad, Shrimaan Shrimati, and Adaalat. He was most recently seen in Sanjivani alongside Surbhi Chandna and Namit Khanna. He was also well-known in Gujarati theater.Best known for playing Khopdi in Nukkad, Sameer Khakhar had said in a 2021 interview that he was on the lookout for good roles, which he said had stopped coming his way. In an another interview, he had said, “I don’t want to sound depressed or say I’m unhappy with the way things are right now… However, I am hoping that the volume of work I am looking for will come my way. I’m excited to be in front of the camera.”
