Taarak Mehta was a man with a positive outlook: 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah' producer

Tarak Mehta, whose popular columns Duniya Ne Undha Chasma in a Gujarati daily, inspired the show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah, passed away yesterday. Here, Asit Kumarr Modi, the producer of the show remembers the columnist...

“I used to read Tarakji’s columns when I was in college. At that time I never thought I would be making a serial based on it. They were not stories but had some characters in it. When I decided to adapt it, I approached Tarakji and he immediately gave me the go-ahead. He had seen my earlier comedy shows and knew my sensibilities. He was happy that I used his name in the title and gave me his blessing. Even when I changed his columns to suit the show, he never objected. When the serial completed 100 episodes, I had called him to Mumbai and he was happy with the success.  

I used to make it a point to go and meet him at least once a month in Ahmedabad. Just talking to him was inspiring  because he was always cheerful and had a great sense of humour. Most importantly, he looked at everything positively. There was an innocence in him. His humour was simple. He had no great expectations. He treated me like his son. Besides the society losing a stalwart of humour and satire, his passing away is a personal loss to me.

He would not have wanted anybody to cry over him but to feel happy at the rich heritage of culture that he has left behind.

In fact, the family is not having any last rites because they have done deh daan (donated his body).”