Actor Ratna Pathak Shah wrote a deeply moving obituary for her longtime friend and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai co-star Satish Shah, who passed away on October 25 following a cardiac arrest. The piece, published in The Indian Express, captures her grief, the warmth of their friendship, and a poignant moment with Satish’s wife, Madhu, at his funeral.

‘Is this really happening?’ Madhu’s words at the funeral

Ratna Pathak Shah recounted how family and friends gathered to bid farewell to the veteran actor. She reflected on the sight of Satish’s “mobile face completely still,” adding that she was unsure if he looked peaceful. Amid the sombre atmosphere, his wife of 45 years, Madhu, turned to her and asked in disbelief, “Is this really happening?”

“She asked me, her eyes stunned, her hands stiff. As he was led away, we gathered around her and tried to make sense of the events,” Ratna wrote.

The actor also mentioned that Satish “wanted to live for her, to see her through her troubled times” and fondly recalled how he would often sing to her. “He sang for her beautifully,” Ratna wrote, wondering who would sing to Madhu now.

A farewell filled with love and song

Despite her grief, Madhu joined the friends and family gathered to celebrate Satish’s life. Ratna described how she began to sing softly, “as if surprised that the man associated with these songs wasn’t present.”

“But then she just gave in to the warmth of the loved ones who came together to celebrate his life, while marking his passage to another stage. Her voice rose and she seemed to be singing to her Satish,” Ratna noted in the heartfelt piece.

Satish Shah’s passing and legacy

Satish Shah, 74, passed away in Mumbai after suffering a cardiac arrest. Earlier reports had suggested kidney failure as the cause of death, but his Sarabhai vs Sarabhai co-star Rajesh Kumar later clarified that Shah collapsed during lunch at home. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors were unable to revive him.

The actor was widely loved for his roles in television and cinema, particularly as the witty and affable Indravadan Sarabhai in the cult comedy Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. His decades-long career spanned both mainstream and parallel cinema, where he was known for his impeccable timing and charm.

Ratna Pathak Shah’s tribute reflected not only on the loss of a talented artist but also on the personal void left behind in the lives of those who knew and loved him.