SAB TV co-founder Gautam Adhikari passes away of cardiac arrest; celebs offer condolences

Veteran television producer-director Gautam Adhikari passed away in Mumbai on October 27, 201, of cardiac arrest. He was 67. Gautam Adhikari was the chairman and co-founder of Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Limited also known as SAB TV, along with his brother Markand Adhikari. The last rites of Gautam Adhikari were performed at Vile Parle in Mumbai. He is survived by wife Ranjana and two children.

The SAB group started in 1985 as a production house for Marathi content on TV and went on to have a bouquet of TV channels, including in Hindi. SAB TV was the first TV production house that went publicly. The company is into film prouction, distribution and also publishing. SAB TV is known for its unique TV shows, including comedy and satire, and became so popular that Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India bought a share in it, with the rebranded channel known as Sony SAB.

Markand Adhikari's wife Kanchan Adhikari told a website, "Gautam was earlier unwell because of kidney transplant but had been doing quite alright lately. But he got a massive heart attack at 2.30 am and passed away."

Television and film celebs as well as general Twitterati offered condolences on the death of Gautam Adhikari.

Photo: Twitter