It was a rude shock when news of the 46-year old actor's untimely death became known last Monday. Kanakia had been suffering from cancer of the pancreas. He was at Lilavati Hospital for more than fortnight before his death.

The actor had at least five serials on air, including Shrimaan Shrimati, Do Aur Do Paanch, Hum Sab Ek Hain, Mal Hai To Tal, Hai. There have also been other serials such as Gud Guddi, Padosan and Mrs Madhuri Dikshit.

Despite the seriousness of his illness, Kanakia was working round the clock. In fact, looking at him on the screen, nobody could have suspected he was suffering from such a fatal disease. He always looks so full of life and energy. Indeed, some might complain that he had too much liveliness and tended to exhaust it all in his comic histrionics (if one might term it so).

It had taken Kanakia just a few years to reach the pinnacle of his chosen area of specialisation. Think of situation comedies and Jatin Kanakia is sure to be at the top of your list -- and the producers. Kanakia's has been a special talent: he has seldom been the star of any show in his own right, unlike other comic talents such as the late Shafi Inamdar or current actors, Shekhar Suman and Satish Shah.

However, he has been the best and most versatile supporting actor. Indeed, in his case, the term ``supporting actor'' couldn't have been more appropriate for it is through his support that the lead actors shine. Without him, many of them and their serials would quite literally have fallen flat. You have only to think of his role in Shrimaan Shrimati or Mrs.Madhuri Dikshit: who else could Archanaji possibly flirt with but Jatin? And who offset and highlighted Renuka Shahane's first comic role in Mrs.Madhuri...but Jatin?

Jatin Kanakia's first television serial has also been his most successful. His break came through the Adhikari Brothers with the sitcom Shrimaan Shrimati which is still running on DD Metro and remains one of the channels top-rated shows. Do Aur Do Paanch (Zee) and Hum Sab Ek Hain (Sony) are his other two better known serials. But it hasn't been any one serial which has done it for Kanakia. It has been the consistency of his performances over six years on the box which made him a household face amongst TV viewers.

What was most disappointing from a professional point of view is that at the time of his death, Kanakia was awaiting the release of two of his films: Khubsoorat and Hum Sub Saath Hain. He was also working on the his latest theatrical work, the Gujarati play, Koi Ramnik Ne Roko which was due to open next week.