We are talking about the 8-year-old bariatric surgery that Dr Hathi (Kavi Kumar Azaad) of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah underwent, when he was brought to Dr Muffi Lakdawala after he had collapsed on the set. Dr Muffi put him on the ventilator, and after the operation was done, Hathi got a new lease of life. The TV actor had dropped from 265 kg to 140 kg.
But did you know that Salman Khan paid for Hathi's hospital expenses? Bet you didn't!
Kavi Kumar Azaad (Dr Hathi)
Dr Muffi did the surgery free of cost, Salman pitched in with the OT and Room Charges, coupled with the amount that was consumed in buying Dr Hathi's medicines.
Salman Khan, who is known to help the poor and needy, works with Dr Muffi closely---- and there must be many others like Dr Hathi who benefited from this association.
Salman Khan
Few months down the line, Dr Hathi met Salman. No doubt, Dr Hathi extended a big thanksgiving to the superstar.
The TV industry is still reeling with the shock that Dr Hathi is no more. Dr Hathi died on Tuesday after a massive cardiac arrest. The cremation took place on Wednesday, it was attended by Shailesh Lodha, Neha Mehta, Mandar Chandwadkar and Jennifer Mistry among others.
Kavi Kumar Azaad (Dr Hathi) And Salman Khan
Dr Bhide (Mandar Chandwadkar) and Jethalal (Dilip Joshi) have extended their heartfelt condolences. Ditto forTappu Sena.
Dr Hathi's demise is a very sad story. The man in question was not ready to undergo the second bariatric surgery that Dr Muffi had advised him, with a warning that otherwise he was risking his life. And why? Simply because he felt that if he shed weight, he won't get work in the TV industry! FYI, SpotboyE.com ran a a big interview with Dr Muffi on Wednesday, wherein the doctor was extremely candid about the dangers that Dr Hathi was carrying with him.