New Delhi: Veteran actor Satish Shah, best known for his roles in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, and Main Hoon Na, passed away on October 25 at around 2:30 PM at Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital. The 74-year-old actor had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications and had recently undergone a transplant. His untimely death has left his co-stars and friends heartbroken.
In an emotional conversation with TV9, actress Swaroop Sampat, who starred alongside him in the iconic 1980s sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, spoke about her bond with the late actor.
Swaroop Sampat reacts to Satish Shah’s death
Struggling to hold back her emotions, she said, “I’m like totally blank, I can only say that we were so close, you know, and he’s the one person I’ve been in touch with all the time. I just spoke to him. I just need some time.”
She recalled how the two remained in constant contact, even when she was abroad. “Fifteen or twenty days back, I was in England and sent him some pictures and videos. He asked me why I was limping, so I said I was tired. He said, ‘Look at me, I’ve got all major surgeries done, but I’m still tuk-tuk!’ He sounded super fine,” she shared.
Swaroop went on to recount their long friendship, which stretched beyond their television work. “He was the one who brought Anjula and Kundan to meet me because we lived very close to each other. We’d worked in films together before, and his wife Madhu and he would always take me wherever they went. They really took care of me,” she revealed.
Reminiscing about their fun moments, she said, “I can only remember him making fun of me and me getting mad at him. We used to be so close and loved eating together. He was so good at singing. Madhu and he would sing old songs so beautifully. It was pure entertainment.”
Sampat also spoke fondly of Shah’s unique interests, saying, “You had to see his gun collection. He had such an incredible collection and showed me each of them with pride.”
Breaking down towards the end, she said softly, “I will miss him a lot because he was the person I was all the time in touch with. Shafi bhai toh nahi raha.”
(With inputs from Bharti Dubey.)