NEW DELHI: Veteran actor Satish Shah, celebrated for his iconic roles in ‘Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai’ and films like ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaar’, has passed away at 74. The beloved performer succumbed to kidney-related issues after being admitted to Hinduja hospital.
Satish Shah, known for his iconic comic roles in popular serials like “Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi” and “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai,” breathed his last in Mumbai. Those who paid their condolences included Ratna Pathak Shah, Rajesh Kumar, Roopa Ganguly, Dilip Joshi, Johnny Lever, Sumeet Raghavan, Deven Bhojani, Jamnadas Majethia, Anjan Shrivastava, Ashok Pandit, Jackie Shroff, and Kunal Kohli. Shiv Sena (Uttar Pradesh) chief Uddhav Thackeray also visited the late actor’s residence to pay his last respects. He said, “This is a huge loss for the industry. I have worked with him on many projects.” I was returning from Piyush Pandey’s funeral when my family informed me about Satish’s passing.” Satish Shah is survived by his wife, designer Madhu Shah.
Shah began his film career in 1978 with Arvind Desai’s Ajeeb Daastaan. He gained widespread fame with his role as Municipal Commissioner D’Mello in the 1983 satire film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. During his career, he has appeared in over 250 films, including Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), and Om Shanti Om (2007).
On television, he gained widespread fame with the 1984 sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, in which he played a different character in each of its 55 episodes. Later, he appeared in several popular serials, including Filmy Chakkar (1995) and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (2004), where Indravadhan His portrayal of Sarabhai received critical acclaim. His pairing with Ratna Pathak Shah in Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai and Filmy Chakkar was also well-received. He appeared in popular shows like Filmy Chakkar (1995) and Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai (2004). His role as Indravadhan Sarabhai in Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai earned him widespread acclaim. In addition to acting, he has also been involved in comedy-based reality shows, including serving as a judge on Comedy Circus. His last film appearance was in Sajid Khan’s Humshakals (2014), starring Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Ram Kapoor, Tamannaah Bhatia, Esha Gupta, and Bipasha Basu.
He shared a special friendship with actor-filmmaker Sachin Pilgaonkar. Sachin Pilgaonkar spoke about his close relationship with Satish Shah. He revealed that Satish Shah underwent a kidney transplant to prolong the life of his wife, Madhu. Satish Shah, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, was on dialysis and had previously undergone a successful bypass surgery. Sachin recalled that Satish Shah’s courage and love for his wife were evident in his final days. Despite his health problems, he was always cheerful and spared no effort in caring for Madhu.
Recalling his first meeting with Satish Shah, Sachin Pilgaonkar explained that their friendship began with the 1987 Marathi film “Gammat Jammat.” This friendship extended not only to them but also to their families. “Gammat Jammat” brought Satish Shah and Sachin Pilgaonkar closer, bringing them closer to each other, becoming like family. These included Satish and Madhu Shah, Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar, Ashok Saraf and his wife, and Laxmikant Berde and his wife. Sachin recalled, “After that film, we never worked together again, but our friendship deepened.” We used to meet at least two or three times a month. Sachin Pilgaonkar said, “You really don’t know what awaits you next. You can’t predict anything. The best thing is to be happy and keep the people around you happy, just like Satish Shah did. You never know when your time will come.”

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