The entertainment industry is in mourning following the death of veteran actor Satish Shah, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 74. Shah, known for his impeccable comic timing and memorable performances in television shows and films, was laid to rest in Mumbai on Sunday. His funeral was attended by family, friends, and numerous colleagues from the film and television industry.
Among those present to pay their respects was actor Sudhir Pandey, a fellow graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and a contemporary of Shah. Pandey fondly remembered Shah as a "behatreen kalakaar" (excellent artist) and a "behatreen insaan" (excellent human being). He reflected on Shah's unique ability to infuse humor into any situation, adding that he had "left very early" and possessed immense untapped potential as an actor.
Pandey and Shah were part of the same graduating class at FTII in 1976. Pandey recalled their time together, emphasizing Shah's ability to transform any situation with humor.
Satish Shah's career spanned decades, marked by memorable roles in iconic productions. He gained widespread recognition for his role in the 1984 sitcom 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi,' where he portrayed 55 different characters across 55 episodes. He was also celebrated for his character, Indravadhan Sarabhai, in the 2004 television show 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai'. His portrayal of Indravadhan, the witty patriarch, made him a household name.
Tiku Talsania, who shared screen space with Shah, was visibly emotional at the funeral. He recalled speaking with Shah just ten days prior to his death. Anang Desai, known for his role in 'Khichdi,' described Shah's death as a "huge loss to the industry". Suresh Oberoi, who had known Shah for a long time, shared memories of their frequent conversations and the jokes Shah would share.
Shah's death was attributed to kidney-related complications. He had reportedly undergone a kidney transplant a couple of months prior to his passing. Oberoi mentioned that Shah had expressed discomfort during dialysis and was deeply saddened by his wife's health condition.
The funeral was attended by several prominent personalities, including Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Farah Khan, Dilip Joshi, and Jackie Shroff. The cast of 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai' paid a musical tribute to Shah by singing the show's title song.
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, who worked with Shah on Kundan Shah's iconic film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' (1983), reminisced about the actor's talent for comedy and his collaborative spirit. Mishra recalled Shah's ability to naturally bring out the humor in scenes, making the filming experience enjoyable.
