Satish Shah

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Satish Shah
A chest up portrait of Satish Shah. He is looking at the camera and smiling. He has grey short hair and a dark moustache. He is wearing a dark shirt with white trimming on the collar and shoulders.
Shah in 2014
Born
Satish Ravilal Shah

(1951-06-25)25 June 1951
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Died25 October 2025(2025-10-25) (aged 74)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1976–2025
Spouse
Madhu Shah
​
(m. 1982)​
AwardsFull list

Satish Ravilal Shah (25 June 1951 – 25 October 2025) was an Indian actor and comedian, best known for his iconic comic roles in films such as Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984), Main Hoon Na (2004), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Fanaa (2006), and Om Shanti Om (2007) and the television series Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (2004) for which he won the ITA Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role and the Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role.

In 2008, he co-judged Comedy Circus alongside Archana Puran Singh. In 2015, he was appointed a member of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) society.[1]

Early life

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Satish Shah was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on 25 June 1951. His father's family was from Mandvi, Gujarat.[2] He did his schooling at New Era School in Mumbai and then completed his graduation from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.[3] He is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, where he received formal training in acting.[4]

Career

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Shah graduated from Film and Television Institute of India in 1976.[5] He was known for his roles in the 1984 sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi directed by Kundan Shah and Manjul Sinha, where he played 55 different characters in 55 episodes, and the character of Prakash in the television serial Zee TV - Filmy Chakkar in 1995, who he played in 50 episodes.[6][7] He also starred in the 2004 television show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai as Indravadhan Sarabhai. In both Filmy Chakkar and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, his pairing was opposite Ratna Pathak Shah.[8] In 1997, he played the lead role in Ghar Jamai for 80 episodes along with the serial All The Best with Swaroop Sampat for 109 episodes for DD2.[citation needed]

He played the role of Municipal Commissioner D'Mello in the 1984 movie Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro directed by Kundan Shah. Considered to be primarily a comedian, he has portrayed various character roles in his career throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, starting with his first movie Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan in 1978. Apart from his career in Bollywood, he was also a judge of the Comedy Circus.

Personal life

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Satish Shah married designer Madhu Shah in 1982. The couple had no children however.[9]

In January 2023, while on a trip to UK, Shah posted a tweet on X, describing the staff at Heathrow Airport questioning on how Shah could afford a first class seat, to which he replied with a proud smile "because we are Indians".[10] While several twitter users praised Shah for standing up to this remark, many twitter users criticized the racist behavior of the airport staff, and the official X account of Heathrow Airport responded to Shah's tweet with an apology of the encounter.[11]

Illness and Death

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During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Satish Shah was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on 20 July and discharged on 28 July after making a full recovery. [12]

On 25 October 2025, Shah died of cardiac arrest at the age of 74.[13] He was cremated the same day, and numerous celebrities attended his last rites[14][15] His co-stars and producers of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai sang the title song of the show as a tribute to him during his cremation.[16]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Film Role Other notes
1976 Bonga Robber short[17]
1978 Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan [18]
1979 Gaman
1981 Umrao Jaan Dilawar
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai [18]
1982 Shakti Ravi
1983 Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro Commissioner D'Mello
1984 Meri Kahanii Dolan
Purana Mandir Saanga
1986 Peechha Karro
Main Balwan Peter
Amrit Ram Charan
Anokha Rishta Nasir Khan
1987 Gammat Jammat Police Inspector Marathi film
Apne Apne
Kalyug Aur Ramayan
Jaan Hatheli Pe
Param Dharam Toluram
1988 Ek Hi Maqsad Mad Poet
Peechha Karo Giri Harihara
Maalamaal Govinda Sakharam Godbole
Aage Ki Soch
Maar Dhaad
Veerana Hitcock
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani Asha's Brother
Hero Hiralal Bhagwan
1989 Saath Saath Satish Shah
Shakti Satish Rai
Ardh Satya Dacoit
Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!
Anjaam
Bhagwan Dada Bijli's Patron
Meri Kahani
Aag Aur Shola Vidyasagar
Love 86 Hawaldar Sandow
Ghar Mein Ram Gali Mein Shyam Mr. Srivastav
Khoj
Bade Ghar Ki Beti
Sachche Ka Bol Bala Akram
Dost Garibon Ka Barkat Ali Khan / Bholeram
Purani Haveli Mangu and Kala Gang
Mahaadev
Tere Bina Kya Jeena
Hisaab Khoon Ka
Ladaai Radheshyam Pandit
1990 Meri Lalkaar
Naag Nagin Champalal, Chamdewala
Apmaan Ki Aag
Shaitani Ilaaka Funtoosh
Hatim Tai Nazrul
Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai
Jungle Love
Chor Pe Mor
Amba
Thanedaar Police Constable Rangiley
1991 Jaan Pehchan
Baharon Ki Manzil
Naamcheen Satiya
Mehandi Ban Gayi Khoon
Jungle Queen
Patthar Ke Insaan Ram Singh, Chauffeur
Benaam Badsha Ganpat
Narsimha Anil Saxena [19]
Dharam Sankat
1992 Abhi Abhi Shastri
Phoolwati
Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj Jailor
Dilwale Kabhi Na Hare Reshamlal
Touhean Dr. Jatin
1993 Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa Simon Gonsalves
Wajva Re Wajva Babulal Jain Marathi film
Aaja Meri Jaan Police Inspector
Bomb Blast Police Inspector Anil Chhatpate
Aashiq Awara Inspector
Sainik Alka's father
Boy Friend Commissioner
1994 Ghar Ki Izzat
Anokha Prem Yudh
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! Doctor [19]
Stuntman Mastan
Teesra Kaun Bingo
1995 Baazi Editor Roy
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge Ajit Singh [19]
Akele Hum Akele Tum Gulbadan Kumar [19]
1996 Saajan Chale Sasural Ram Pyara [19]
1997 Aar Ya Paar Jagdish
Judwaa Havaldar/Inspector [19]
Hero No. 1 Pappi [19]
Agni Chakra
Himalay Putra Major Mathur
Mere Sapno Ki Rani Subhash
Ghulam-E-Mustafa Qawwali Singer
1998 Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! Seth Motichand
Saat Rang Ke Sapne Baldev
Gharwali Baharwali Anand Rastogi
Tirchhi Topiwale Gokul Pai
Prem Aggan
Shanti Shanti Shanti Anantha Murthy Kannada film
1999 Anari No.1 Sattar [19]
Hum Saath Saath Hain Pritam [19]
2000 Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Rohits Landlord
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani Kaka Chowdhry [20]
Saali Poori Gharwali
Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega Mahesh Hirwani
2002 Kitne Door Kitne Paas Veer Singh/Jeet Singh Rathod/Bhanwar Singh [21]
Pyar Ki Dhun Kuber
Om Jai Jagadish
Mujhse Dosti Karoge Mr. Sahani
Jeena Sirf Merre Liye Editor/Publisher
Saathiya Om Sehgal
2003 Tujhe Meri Kasam Satish Khanna [22]
Love at Times Square Gujarati Motel Owner
Ishq Vishk Mr. Mathur
Chalte Chalte Manubhai
Kuch Naa Kaho Rakesh (Raj's Uncle)
Kal Ho Naa Ho Karshan Bhai Patel
Out of Control Flower [23]
2004 Masti Dr. Suresh Kapadia
Main Hoon Na Prof. Madhav Rasai [24]
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Suraj Prakash
Kis Kiski Kismat Rafsanjani
2005 Bachke Rehna Re Baba Gutkha Baron Mansukhani [25]
Pyaar Mein Twist Karam Khanna [26]
Ramji Londonwaley Immigration officer Vishambal Mehra
Shaadi No. 1 Kothari
2006 Fanaa Colonel
Love Ke Chakkar Mein Neha's Father
Panga Na Lo Karsanbhai Shah
Sandwich Chelaramani
Dil Laga Ke Dekho
Deewana Tere Naam Ka
2007 Om Shanti Om Partho Das
Just Married Chaturvedi [27]
2008 Bhootnath Principal J.J. Irani [28]
Dhoom Dadakka Jignesh [29]
De Taali
2009 Horn 'OK' Pleassss
Mr. Fraud
Kal Kissne Dekha Kapoor
2010 Chance Pe Dance School Principal
Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai Rajesh's Father
Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai
Milenge Milenge Trilok Kapoor
Khichdi: The Movie Ishwar Buddhidev [30]
2011 Ra.One Iyer Uncle
2012 Gola Berij
A New Love Ishtory DD
2013 Ramaiya Vastavaiya Krishnakant
Club 60 Mansukhani [31]
2014 Humshakals Mr. Y.M. Raj [32]

Television

[edit]
Title Year Role Note Ref.
Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi 1984–1986 Various characters [33]
Filmi Chakkar 1993–1995 Prakash Jaiswal [34]
P.A. Sahab 1994 P.A. Sahab [35]
Biwi Toh Biwi Salla Re Salla 1996-1997 Dr. Raj Sethi [36]
Ghar Jamai 1997–1998 Vishamber Mehra [37]
Mast Mast Hain Zindagi 1997–1998 Prashant [38]
Top 10 1999 Host/presenter [39]
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai 2004–2006; 2017 Indravadan Sarabhai [40][41]
Comedy Circus 2007–2008 Judge
United Kacche 2023 Jogu Chimanlal Patel

Awards

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Year Award Category Work Result
1985 Filmfare Awards Best Performance in a Comic Role Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro Nominated
2005 Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actor in a Comic Role Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Won
Indian Telly Awards Nominated
2006 Won
2017 Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actor - Web Series Won

References

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  1. ^ "Satish Shah, producer B P Singh among three appointed to FTII society". The Indian Express. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ Banerjee, Tuli (23 May 2009). "I'm a Kutchi Gujarati: Satish Shah". DNA Syndication. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  3. ^ "'I'm in no hurry to die,' Satish Shah had once said expressing that he took a sabbatical from acting to rejuvinate[sic] himself". The Times of India. 26 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Film and TV personalities pay tribute to actor Satish Shah". The Hindu. 26 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Satish Shah, FTII alumnus who made audiences laugh, dies at 74". The Indian Express. Express News Service. 25 October 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Satish Shah: A comic genius with a sparkling sense of the absurd". India Today. 17 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  7. ^ "What made Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi such an important show". Hindustan Times. 14 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Cast of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai: Where are they now?". The Indian Express. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Satish Shah's family: Know all about romance with wife Madhu to family ties with Ratna Pathak Shah".
  10. ^ "Satish Shah's fitting reply to a racist remark at UK's Heathrow airport wins the internet".
  11. ^ "Actor Satish Shah's Response To Racist Comment At UK's Heathrow Airport Wins Internet".
  12. ^ "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai fame Satish Shah reveals COVID-19 diagnosis, thanks hospital after testing negative". The Times of India. 9 August 2020.
  13. ^ Sana, Farzeen (25 October 2025). "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai actor Satish Shah dies at 74". India Today. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Veteran actor Satish Shah, known for Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Main Hoon Na, dies at 74". The Indian Express. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Satish Shah Death: 'साराभाई वर्सेस साराभाई' फेम अभिनेते सतीश शाह यांचं निधन, ७४ व्या वर्षी घेतला अखेरचा श्वास". Lokmat. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Film and TV personalities pay tribute to actor Satish Shah".
  17. ^ Kulkarni, Ronjita (8 February 2007). "The rare, first movies of Bollywood's best". Rediff.com. Retrieved 25 October 2025. Made in 1976, the comedy features Satish Shah, Rakesh Bedi and Suresh Oberoi among others.
  18. ^ a b Gupta, Shubhra (26 October 2025). "Satish Shah (1951-2025): Dead D'Mello brought us to life: The incomparable humourist, humanist". The Indian Express. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 1 November 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i Marhur, Abhimanyu (26 October 2025). "How Satish Shah broke a box office record that even Shah Rukh and Salman Khan couldn't: All about his ₹500 crore run". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Aziz Mirza urges fans to revisit Shah Rukh Khan's Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani: 'My son says that you should have made the film seriously…'". The Indian Express. New Delhi. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  21. ^ "BBC - Shropshire - Movies - Kitne Door Kitne Paas". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  22. ^ Pant, Seema (4 January 2003). "Tujhe Meri Kasam: The review". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  23. ^ N, Anjum (21 November 2005). "Can we have a new storyline please?". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2 November 2025. Here, he is helped by Flower (Satish Shah in a drag queen avatar), the son of a childhood friend.
  24. ^ Bunty, H S (30 April 2004). "Main Hoon Na: A little bit of everything". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  25. ^ Sen, Raja (17 June 2005). "Bachke Rehna: Booby trap!". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025. Here they find Satish Shah, who, despite Ms Sherawat's stunningly statuesque self, steals the show. His Fakirchand Mansukhani is a delightful take on Hackman's grizzled old fruit, and is a superbly restrained performance. It even manages to make us laugh despite Rekha crowding around him, trying way too hard.
  26. ^ Mitra, Indrani Roy (17 June 2005). "Pyaar Mein Twist: Good stuff". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2 November 2025. veteran Satish Shah looks as fat and sweet as ever.
  27. ^ N, Patcy (16 March 2007). "Just Married: A good one-time watch". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  28. ^ Ramani, Nitya (17 March 2008). "Amitabh unveils Bhootnath". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025. Apart from Amitabh's friendly ghost and Aman's prankster Banku, the rest of the cast comprises of Juhi as Banku's mother, an easy-going, fun loving person; Banku's principal Irani (Satish Shah), who is extremely fond of students' lunch boxes; and Anthony (Rajpal Yadav), the servant.
  29. ^ Gupta, Ameeta (23 May 2008). "Dhoom Dadakka: Just a few laugh gags". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  30. ^ Hegde, Rajul (1 October 2010). "Taste Khichdi's magic on the big screen". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  31. ^ Tiwari, Nishi (6 December 2013). "Review: Club 60 is promising but loses steam very fast". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  32. ^ Sen, Raja (20 June 2014v). "Review: Humshakals should be sued for cruelty to audiences". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025. Even the great Satish Shah -- who has aged remarkably well, casting directors across the nation -- shows up as an ill-conceived neo-Nazi warden who is, unforgivably, slapped around by these morons. Ugh.
  33. ^ "What made Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi such an important show". Hindustan Times. 14 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  34. ^ "The cast of Filmi Chakkar: Where are they now?". 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  35. ^ Sharma, Manimugdha S. "Pakistani TV shows are detergents to wash away Indian soap operas". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  36. ^ Biwi Toh Biwi Salla Re Salla, retrieved 16 November 2025
  37. ^ "Tribuneindia... Film and tv". www.tribuneindia.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  38. ^ Mast Mast Hain Zindagi, 1 January 1997, retrieved 24 November 2025
  39. ^ "Popular countdown show Colgate Top 10 comes back a full circle". 12 July 1999.
  40. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Take 2 cast opens up about the new season; makers hint Khichdi might return as a web series". India Today. 16 May 2017. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  41. ^ "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum". Tribuneindia.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
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