Ghanshyam Nayak's son on when he knew his father might pass away

It might have been over a week now but the news about veteran actor Ghanshyam Nayak passing away continues to be one of the most shocking piece of news that happened in a long time. The actor, best known for his role as Nattu Kaka in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah passed away after struggling with health issues for a while.

While everyone has had their set of condolences expressed, Nayak's son, Vikas went on to have a chat with ETimes TV. He first said, "It was a year ago that my dad underwent surgery for cancer. This was followed by radiation and chemotherapy. His cancer was so rare that the line of treatment seemed trial-n-error. He had 9 chemotherapy sessions- 5 last year and 4 this year. 30 radiation sessions followed. This was sometime around September 2020 and things seemed to be getting under control. But in March 2021, dad developed swelling on his face. We assumed that it was a result of the radiation but the tests showed that the cancer had spread into his lungs."

He added, "In April 2021, we restarted chemotherapy- that's where the 4 sessions of 2021 came in. Till June, this went on. But there was no improvement. Even the swelling didn't subside. But dad insisted that he still wanted to go to work and so he shot a bit for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and even did an ad."

Talking about the last days, he said, "Towards the last few days, dad had difficulty in breathing and we tried to arrange for oxygen and nurses at home. But he slipped further. And, we rushed him to the hospital. He had to be admitted to the ICU, then was moved into a room as he got a bit better but again had to be sent back to the ICU as the condition deteriorated yet again.15 days prior to his demise, his sugar had shot up to alarming heights and he wasn't recognising anybody. But after the sugar level went down, he knew who was around him.

However, on October 2, Dad asked me; 'Who am I?' He had forgotten his own name. That is the time I realised that he'd started going into the other world."

He concluded saying, "We called a professional makeup artiste to do makeup on his face when he passed away as he wanted to die with his makeup on. And I must tell you that there was immense peace on his face when his pulse stopped."

Indeed his journey for heavenly abode was also as pure and peaceful as his time when he was alive.