Satish Shah texted Sachin Pilgaonkar at 12:56 pm before his demise, 'He got a kidney transplant only to take care of his ailing wife'

Veteran actor Satish Shah, best known for his memorable performances in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, and Main Hoon Na, passed away this afternoon at the age of 74. His health reportedly deteriorated suddenly at home, following which he was rushed to P.D.

Hinduja Hospital, where he succumbed to kidney-related complications.In a career spanning over four decades, Satish Shah left an indelible mark across films, theatre, and television. But beyond his prolific body of work, he was known for his warmth and enduring friendships—one of which was with actor-filmmaker Sachin Pilgaonkar.

“He got a kidney transplant only to extend his wife’s life”

Speaking to News18, Sachin Pilgaonkar opened up about his deep bond with Shah and shared emotional details about the late actor’s final months.“Unfortunately, even Madhu isn’t well. She has Alzheimer’s. This year, Satish got his kidney transplanted. He wanted to extend his life so that he could take care of Madhu. He was on dialysis. Earlier, he underwent a bypass surgery, which was successful,” Sachin revealed.He added that Satish’s resilience and love for his wife defined his final phase. Despite health challenges, he remained spirited and dedicated to ensuring Madhu’s comfort.

“He was absolutely fine; I got a message from him today”

Sachin, who first worked with Shah on the 1987 Marathi film Gammat Jammat, recalled that the project marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two and their families. The actor shared that he had received a message from Satish just hours before his sudden passing.“Supriya went to visit Satish and Madhu just three days back. He played some music and Supriya and Madhu danced. Madhu recalled how she would dance cha-cha-cha,” he said, adding, “Satish and I would keep exchanging texts.

In fact, I received a message from him at 12:56 pm today, which means he was absolutely fine even at that time. That I’m in shock is an understatement.”

A bond that went beyond work

Sachin fondly reminisced about how Gammat Jammat brought together a group of couples who became like family — Satish and Madhu Shah, Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar,

Ashok Saraf

and his wife, and

Laxmikant Berde

and his wife.“We never worked together again after that film, but we clicked as friends big time. We used to meet at least twice or thrice a month.

They were always there for every celebration — premieres, screenings, parties. And now, I can’t imagine how we’ll celebrate anything without him,” Sachin said.Reflecting on the unpredictability of life, Sachin concluded with heartfelt words, “You really don’t know what awaits you. You just can’t predict anything. The idea is to stay happy and keep people around you happy, which he did. You don’t know when your time comes.”