Veteran actor Satish Shah's death on October 25, 2025, at the age of 74, has sent shockwaves through the Indian entertainment industry. The actor, best known for his roles in the sitcom "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai" and the film "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro," passed away due to kidney failure at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai.
David Dhawan, a close friend and FTII batchmate of Shah, expressed his shock and grief upon hearing the news. Dhawan fondly remembered Shah as being "full of life" and recalled their long-lasting friendship of 50 years. "You don't even know how close we were," Dhawan said. "We passed out from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) together. Forget the number of films we did, we knew each other for 50 years! I did my editing, he did acting. This news is a shock".
Dhawan revealed that Shah had been undergoing dialysis at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai and would often visit him on set at Mehboob Studios. According to Dhawan, Shah was "perfectly okay" before his health complications arose following a kidney transplant. "He was perfectly okay, the problem started after the kidney transplant," Dhawan stated. "He was in Kolkata too for some time". Shah had undergone a kidney transplant three months prior to his death and had been dealing with kidney-related issues in recent months. His manager, Ramesh Kadatala, confirmed that the actor collapsed suddenly while having lunch.
Dhawan also shared that Shah had stopped working some time ago, expressing his desire to rest after a long career. Dhawan had planned to cast Shah in his next film, to which Shah had agreed. "I said 'meri film main shuru karunga, terko lena hai usme'," Dhawan recounted. "He had replied 'haan teri wali kar lunga'". Dhawan reminisced about Shah's talents, recalling his rhythm, singing ability, and overall amazing qualities. "Bahot rhythm thi Satish mein," Dhawan shared. "He would obviously sing very well. Bahot qualities thi usme. Kamaal ka tha. Kya bolun... Satish".
The news of Satish Shah's death has been met with an outpouring of grief from the entertainment industry and his fans. Many celebrities attended his funeral on October 26 at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai to pay their respects. These included David Dhawan, Farah Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Jackie Shroff, Johnny Lever, and the cast of "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai," including Ratna Pathak Shah and Rupali Ganguly. Rupali Ganguly, who played Shah's daughter-in-law in the show, was seen breaking down at the funeral.
Satish Shah's career spanned decades, with memorable performances in both film and television. He was dubbed the "Comedy King" in the 1980s after gaining recognition in the sitcom "Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi". He further cemented his place in the industry with roles in shows like "Filmi Chakkar," "Ghar Jamai," and the iconic "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai". His film career took off with "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" in 1981, and he went on to star in numerous Bollywood hits, including "Hum Aapke Hain Koun," "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge," "Main Hoon Na," and "Kal Ho Na Ho". His contribution to Indian cinema and television will always be remembered.
