MUMBAI: Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has penned an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and co-star, the late Satish Shah, who passed away on Saturday in Mumbai at the age of 75. In his note published by The Indian Express, Shah remembered Satish as a man whose infectious humour and generosity of spirit could “light up any room.”
The two first met at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, where Shah was instantly impressed by Satish’s agility and sporting skills. “I first noticed Satish (a year junior) in the cricket nets at FTII and was astounded by his skill at the game and his rotund but amazingly agile body,” Shah recalled.
“He let himself get categorised as a comedian”
Reflecting on Satish Shah’s career, Naseeruddin expressed regret that the Hindi film industry never gave his friend the creative opportunities he deserved. He lamented how Satish’s extraordinary acting talent and versatility were boxed into the category of comedy.
“Of course, his passing is a loss, and he’ll be sorely missed,” Shah wrote. “But I consider a bigger loss to be the fact that despite, or because of, his dazzling performance gifts, his acute perception of people, his understanding of the acting process and his impeccable timing, he let himself get categorised as a comedian and stayed stuck there, seemingly content with it.”
Shah further remarked that this tendency of the film industry — which he referred to as “Follywood” — to typecast actors may serve a “dark purpose.” He added, “I often wonder if it serves some dark purpose of Follywood to never let actors escape typecasting. But I’ve also always wondered why some people who are hugely entertaining in real life seldom make actors of depth.”
A friendship spanning decades
The bond between Naseeruddin Shah, Satish Shah, and Ratna Pathak Shah was one that extended beyond the screen. While Naseer and Satish starred together in the cult classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), it was Ratna who shared one of television’s most iconic partnerships with Satish in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.
“As it happened, he and Ratna formed a memorable partnership on-screen and forged an unbreakable bond of friendship off it,” Shah wrote. “She credits him for initiating her into comic acting.”
“He savoured the good life”
In his note, the Masoom actor described Satish as someone who chose happiness and simplicity over ambition. “I always felt he was doing an injustice to his enormous talent by playing safe,” Shah said. “But that is what he chose to do. He savoured the good life, and he lived it to the full.”
The Padma Shri recipient added that Satish’s passing was not just the loss of a dear friend but a reminder of mortality. “His passing away was also a grim reminder that we, of that generation, are all on borrowed time now,” he wrote.
A final goodbye
Naseeruddin Shah ended his heartfelt tribute on a moving note, expressing his wish to reunite with his friend once again — not on a film set, but on a celestial stage. “I hope to share the stage with him again someday — in the theatre up in the sky,” he concluded.
Satish Shah, remembered for his impeccable comic timing and unforgettable roles in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Main Hoon Na, and Kal Ho Naa Ho, leaves behind a legacy of laughter, warmth, and grace that touched generations of audiences.