Satish Shah, Beloved ‘Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai’ Star, Mourned

MUMBAI -Veteran actor Satish Shah, one of Indian cinema and television’s most beloved character actors, passed away on October 25 here, at the age of 74 due to kidney failure. The actor, renowned for his impeccable comic timing and versatile performances, leaves behind a legacy of laughter across four decades in the entertainment industry.

The sad news was confirmed by his friend, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, who shared that Shah had suddenly fallen ill at home and was rushed to Hinduja Hospital, where he breathed his last. Pandit described the demise as a “huge loss for our industry.”

Shah rose to national fame with iconic television roles, most notably as the eccentric, witty patriarch Indravadan Sarabhai in the cult sitcom ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’ and for showcasing his range by playing an astounding 55 different characters in the popular show ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’. His memorable film work includes classics like ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’ (where he played the unforgettable Municipal Commissioner D’Mello) and other popular movies such as ‘Main Hoon Na’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’.

The final rites for the late actor were conducted the next at the Pawan Hans crematorium in the Vile Parle West area of Mumbai. The funeral saw a large gathering of industry peers, including the full cast of ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’—Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan, Rajesh Kumar, and Ratna Pathak Shah.

They were joined by other prominent figures like Naseeruddin Shah (Ratna Pathak Shah’s husband), Pankaj Kapur, Supriya Pathak, Deepak Parashar, Niel Nitin Mukesh, Avatar Gill, filmmaker David Dhawan, Rumi Jaffery, Anang Desai, and Ashoke Pandit, all paying their last respects.

Tributes for the comic legend poured in from across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, stating that Shah will be remembered as a “true legend of Indian entertainment” whose “effortless humor… brought laughter into countless lives.” Bollywood celebrities also shared their grief: Salman Khan remembered him as someone he had “Known u since I was 15… life lived king-size.” 

R Madhavan wrote an emotional tribute, saying, “The heavens will be a merrier and a happier place now,” while Kajol said, “your laughter will echo forever.” Director Farah Khan will miss him “sending me memes and jokes every day,” and Amrita Rao noted that his “humor & vibrancy shall live forever in my memory.” Further condolences were shared by Karan Johar and Sunny Deol. (IANS)