Filmmaker-actor Ashish Kakkad dies at 49; Gujarati industry mourns his demise

Days after film actor-turned-politician Naresh Kanodia breathed his last at a hospital in Ahmedabad, another upsetting and sad news has left the Gujarati film industry in shock. 

According to a report in Ahmedabad Mirror, noted actor, filmmaker and voiceover artiste, Ashish Kakkad on Monday, breathed his last after suffering from a massive cardiac arrest. He was reportedly in Kolkata to celebrate his son's birthday.

The sad news was also shared by music composer Nishith Mehta on his Instagram handle. Alongside photos of himself with Ashish, Mehta wrote a long note remembering his friend. 

He wrote, "Endless arguments and discussions and debates and whatnot for years together. I remember once he pushed me for morning walks and I did for a while... his loud “good morning” to every one that passed by and the warm response that came used to amuse me and it became a part of my life too...His simplicity, his warmth, his professionalism, his crazy sense of humour, his habits (some very irritating) and his awesome deep voice. A brilliant storyteller, he loved to keep things real. Headstrong in his views, amazing with kids. Writing, theatre, films, television, voicing and what not.... so much will be lost without you ashiya." 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Nishith Mehta (@nishithmehtaofficial) on Nov 2, 2020 at 11:03pm PST

Mehta continued, "For over two decades I had the pleasure of knowing him and working with him on numerous projects including both his directorial films “Better half” and “Mission Mummy”. He loved to sing and used to coax me maane gavdaav tu and he sang couple of my songs. I had him in my life as a close friend, a brother, sharing so many memories together."

He added, "One of his habits was keeping an alarm for everything.... for his meals, for his medicines and the most irritating for me was the 10:00 pm “it’s time to sleep” one, if he liked something then the alarm would go on snooze, else he would immediately get up saying “suva no time thai gayo hu jau.”

"Kakkad I am sure you wouldn’t have set an alarm for this yaar... then why?" Mehta concluded his emotional note. 

Radio personality Dhvanit Thaker too took to his Instagram to condole the death of the filmmaker-actor.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mirchi Dhvanit (@dhvanitthaker) on Nov 2, 2020 at 10:10am PST

Among other noted personalities who took to their social media handles to condole Ashish's death was actor Malhar Thakar who wrote in his Instagram stories, "Ashish Kakkad will miss you, Bhagvan Tmara Aatma Ne Shanti Aape."

Indian theatre artist and film actor Yash Soni, and filmmaker Saandeep Patel too paid their tributes through Instagram posts. 

Ashish Kakkad, who had directed the film 'Better Half', shot to fame with 'Mission Mummy'. He was also seen in filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor's acclaimed movie 'Kai Po Che' and psychological thriller 'Beyond Blue: An Unnerving Tale of a Demented Mind', directed by Zanane Rajsingh.