Sarabhai vs Sarabhai actor Satish Shah passed away on Saturday due to kidney failure at the age of 74. Confirming the news, filmmaker Ashok Pandit wrote on Instagram, “Sad and shocked to inform you that our dear friend and a great actor Satish Shah has expired few hours ago due to kidney failure.”
The actor is survived by his designer wife Madhu Shah. His last post was on X where he shared a picture with Govinda and Shammi Kapoor. The post read, “Happy B’day dearest Shammi ji. You are always around me”. On the film front, he was last seen in the 2014 film ‘Humshakals’ directed by Sajid Khan. The film starred Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Ram Kapoor, Tamannaah Bhatia, Esha Gupta and Bipasha Basu.
Born on June 25, 1951, Satish Shah became one of Indian cinema and television’s most beloved faces. Over a career spanning decades, he carved a niche for himself with impeccable comic timing and unforgettable performances in films like ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’, ‘Maalamaal’, ‘Hero Hiralal’, ‘Main Hoon Na’ and ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’.
An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Shah began his journey with smaller roles in acclaimed films such as ‘Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan’ (1978) and ‘Gaman’ (1979). His big breakthrough came in 1983 with Kundan Shah’s cult classic ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’, where his portrayal of the hilariously corrupt Municipal Commissioner D’Mello elevated him to nationwide fame.
On television, Shah’s charm and wit made him a household favorite. He delighted audiences with his roles in ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’ and ‘Filmi Chakkar’, before achieving iconic status as the quirky Indravadan Sarabhai in ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’. His effortless chemistry with co-stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan and Rajesh Kumar turned the sitcom into one of India’s most adored shows.