Ashoke Pandit: Satish Shah can’t be defined; he had too many shades

Satish Shah, who passed away on October 25, was one of Indian television’s most loved faces. His effortless comic timing, warmth and grounded persona made him a favourite both on and off screen.

Known for Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Filmi Chakkar and a long list of memorable films, Satish brought authenticity to every role he played. But beyond his work, he was a devoted husband, a generous friend and an artiste who never stopped observing life around him.Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, who had known him for nearly four decades, recalls, “Our friendship began during the shooting of Saath Saath soon after he came out of FTII.

Since we were working on a shoestring budget, Satish opened the doors of his home for us. The entire film was practically produced in his house.” Their bond grew stronger when Ashoke worked as an associate director on Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi. “That entire period of nearly two years was spent with Satish,” he says.He remembers Satish as an actor who was deeply observant, someone who created characters by studying people around him.

“He was a simple person, very grounded and never flaunted his achievements. He was not a vanity van actor; he was always around, interacting, laughing, guiding.”

Satish was also known for his vast knowledge of music and cinema. “He could tell you who wrote a song, who composed it and even what happened during the recording. Between shots, he would often lead impromptu singing sessions with Farida Jalal, Swaroop Sampat, Rakesh Bedi and Shafi Inamdar,” says Ashoke. Despite being celebrated for his comic brilliance, Satish longed to explore serious roles. “He used to say, ‘The one who can make people laugh can make them cry too.’ Unfortunately, he didn’t get many opportunities to do that,” Ashoke shares. In his final years, Satish battled serious health issues, including a kidney transplant and bypass surgery, yet never allowed illness to define him. Ashoke says, “Whenever I called, he’d say, ‘Don’t ask about my health. Let’s gossip and have fun like always. I want to enjoy life’. His strength was driven by his love for his wife, Madhu, who is battling Alzheimer’s and dementia.” The filmmaker concludes, “Satish Shah cannot be defined. He had too many colours, too many shades. He was a complete man and an actor beyond definition.”