Satish Shah's onscreen son Rajesh Kumar: The last few hours I spent with his mortal remains were the toughest moments of my life

For over two decades, actor Rajesh Kumar fondly known as Roshesh Sarabhai, shared not just screen space but a deep personal bond with the late Satish Shah, his mentor, co-star, and friend from the iconic sitcom ‘Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai’.

In this heartfelt conversation with ETimes, Rajesh opens up about his final moments with the veteran actor, the laughter they shared, and the irreplaceable void his passing has left behind.You accompanied Satishji to the crematorium?I was there in the ambulance from his home to the cremation ground, and all I can say is that was the longest ride where I saw Satishji quiet. He was so full of life, and to see him like that was heartbreaking.He was a livewire?He just knew how to uplift everyone’s mood. You might be going through a crisis, and when you confided in him, he would listen intently at first. Then came a quip, a witty reaction, that instantly made you feel lighter as if he was telling you not to dwell on problems but to find solutions instead.How was he as a co-star?His work reflected his real self. Every character he portrayed had shades of the real Satish Shah full of emotion, humour, and strength.

It’s a personal loss I’ve never felt before in my career. I’ve been part of this industry for over 25 years, and for 21 of those, Satishji was a constant. Ninety percent of my professional journey is intertwined with him. I always looked forward to his company, and we constantly sought opportunities to work together.When was the last time you worked with him?The last time was during an ad shoot where both Ratnaji and he were present.

I sensed his health was declining, but he was still full of energy, never once using illness as an excuse. He worked on his own terms, but when ‘Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai’ was being shot, he gave his time from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Initially, he would wrap up on time, but soon he began staying on until 9 p.m. just to spend more time with us.The ‘Sarabhai’ family was a universe of its own?He was so fond of all of us. He adored Ratnaji, and he loved Sumit Raghavan’s wit, they were like the set’s bullies, while Rupali Ganguly and I were their soft targets! But it was all in good fun.

He was playful, innocent, and young at heart, the kind of person you always wanted to be around.He often took us ‘Sarabhai’ actors to his friends’ gatherings, introducing us to his world with such warmth that we always felt like an extension of his life.

Today, when we bid him farewell, Naseerji came up to us and said, “Just keep him in your thoughts, and he will always be there for you.” I know Satishji will continue to look after his ‘Sarabhai’ family from up there, just as he did when he was with us.How would you define your bond with Satish Shah?It’s impossible to define it in words. Ours was a 21-year-long friendship, full of laughter, jokes, teasing, and deep emotional connection. Everything with him was a joyride.How was he in person?He was a man brimming with confidence and positivity, someone who treated life like a play. And he was a fantastic singer! The characteristics of Indravadan Sarabhai and Satish Shah were almost identical, full of knowledge, experience, and warmth.

He was always welcoming to newcomers and offered invaluable guidance to the younger generation on set.It’s rare for such relationships to endure in this industry…All I can say is, it’s very difficult to articulate the depth of what I shared with Satishji. The last few hours I spent with his mortal remains were the toughest moments of my life. It all felt surreal, like a dream, or perhaps Maya, as they say, the play of life. Seeing this man, once so vibrant, now lying peacefully, was simply unbelievable.