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Satish Shah Dies: Back in the day, when attention spans were not reduced to 90 seconds courtesy of reels and short videos, the Indian audience relished entertainment on the small black box—the television. It was during this time that Satish Shah became synonymous with laughter for generations of Indian audiences. The actor's passing on October 25 due to kidney failure at the age of 74 leaves an irreparable void in the entertainment industry. The actor's demise comes just days after fans were still reeling from the loss of icons such as Asrani and ad legend Piyush Pandey. In a career spanning over four decades, Satish Shah has gotten into the skin of several characters, both for big and small screens, which will be remembered for years to come. Be it a sharp-tongued, flirtatious Indravadan Sarabhai from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai or the many quirky avatars he played in Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, his roles have left a mark on the audience, even years after release. A testament to this is the fact that a millennial cannot simply walk by if an episode of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai happens to be playing on TV (or, now, on OTT). While the show and films themselves carry enough merit to be rewatched time and again, Shah's performance in the projects turns the ordinary moments into timeless entertainment.While he got his best recognition from TV, Satish Shah, born and raised in Mumbai, began his career in films. After completing his training at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Shah began his acting career in the 1970s. His appearance as Commissioner D'Mello in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) marked his breakthrough. The following year, Satish Shah became the face of the Indian sitcom by playing over 50 characters in the show Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984-1986). He first collaborated with Ratna Pathak Shah in the show Filmi Chakkar (1993–1995), where their chemistry found a place in the audience's hearts. He also featured in serials such as Ghar Jamai and appeared in side roles in movies like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Main Hoon Na (2004). In 2004, came the career-defining and life-changing moment for Satish Shah when he took up the role of Indravadan Sarabhai, reuniting with Ratna Pathak Shah in the show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. Playing the role of the head of an affluent Gujarati family residing in South Bombay, Shah's camaraderie with Monisha (Rupali Ganguly) and Sahil (Sumeet Raghvan), and his banter with Maya and Rosesh (Rajesh Kumar) became the highlight of the show. In the many years of the show's runtime, the actor won hearts as the witty, sarcastic yet affectionate patriarch. In the subsequent years, Satish Shah continued to entertain the audience with his quirky and witty humour. He brought alive characters that often mirrored the everyday Indian — flawed, funny, and deeply relatable — making him a permanent fixture in the country’s collective memory. His final appearance came in the Zee 5 show United Kacche (2023), before which he appeared in the movie Humshakals (2014). In an old interview, Satish Shah admitted that he had taken a sabbatical from acting, but assured his fans that he would be back on screen soon - a promise he could not keep. Also Read: Satish Shah Cause Of Death: Hospital Issues Official Statement Also Read: Satish Shah Last Rites: Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Co-stars Pay Final Respects The actor married filmmaker and actress Madhu Shah, who is battling Alzheimer's, as per reports. Satish Shah's last rites were held in Mumbai today, October 26. His fans, friends, well-wishers and industry insiders were in attendance at the funeral. Satish Shah's passing has left a void that can only be filled by watching a rerun of his iconic performances that brought families together and filled living rooms with laughter.
