Satish Shah

Satish Ravilal Shah (25 June 1951 – 25 October 2025) was an Indian actor and comedian, best known for his iconic comic roles in films such as Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Main Hoon Na (2004), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Fanaa (2006), and Om Shanti Om (2007) and television series such as Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984), and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (2004) for which he won the ITA Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role and the Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role.

In 2008, he co-judged Comedy Circus alongside Archana Puran Singh. In 2015, he was appointed a member of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) society.

Early life Satish Shah was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on 25 June 1951. His father's family was from Mandvi, Gujarat. He did his schooling at New Era School in Mumbai and then completed his graduation from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. He is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, where he received formal training in acting.

Career Shah graduated from Film and Television Institute of India in 1976. He was known for his roles in the 1984 sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi directed by Kundan Shah and Manjul Sinha, where he played 55 different characters in 55 episodes, and the character of Prakash in the television serial Zee TV - Filmy Chakkar in 1995, who he played in 50 episodes. He also starred in the 2004 television show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai as Indravadhan Sarabhai. In both Filmy Chakkar and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, his pairing was opposite Ratna Pathak Shah. In 1997, he played the lead role in Ghar Jamai for 80 episodes along with the serial All The Best with Swaroop Sampat for 109 episodes for DD2.

He played the role of Municipal Commissioner D'Mello in the 1984 movie Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro directed by Kundan Shah. Considered to be primarily a comedian, he has portrayed various character roles in his career throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, starting with his first movie Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan in 1978. Apart from his career in Bollywood, he was also a judge of the Comedy Circus.

Personal life Satish Shah married designer Madhu Shah in 1982. The couple had no children however.

In January 2023, while on a trip to UK, Shah posted a tweet on X, describing the staff at Heathrow Airport questioning on how Shah could afford a first class seat, to which he replied with a proud smile "because we are Indians". While several twitter users praised Shah for standing up to this remark, many twitter users criticized the racist behavior of the airport staff, and the official X account of Heathrow Airport responded to Shah's tweet with an apology of the encounter.

Illness and death During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Satish Shah was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on 20 July and discharged on 28 July after making a full recovery.

On 25 October 2025, Shah died of cardiac arrest at the age of 74. He was cremated the same day, and numerous celebrities attended his last rites His co-stars and producers of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai sang the title song of the show as a tribute to him during his cremation.

Ratna Pathak Shah paid tribute to Shah by writing an op-ed for The Indian Express, calling him "a maestro of the [comedy] genre." Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X, called him "true legend of Indian entertainment." He further wrote that Shah's "effortless humour and iconic performances brought laughter into countless lives." Numerous members of the entertainment industry also paid tribute to Shah including Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, R Madhavan, Anupam Kher, Farah Khan, Madhur Bhandarkar, and Johny Lever.

Filmography

Films Year Film Role Other notes1976 Bonga Robber short 1978 Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan 1979 Gaman 1981 Umrao Jaan Dilawar Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai Stuntman Mastan Teesra Kaun Bingo 1995 Baazi Editor Roy Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge Ajit Singh Saali Poori Gharwali Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega Mahesh Hirwani 2002 Kitne Door Kitne Paas Veer Singh/Jeet Singh Rathod/Bhanwar Singh Pyar Ki Dhun Kuber Om Jai Jagadish Mujhse Dosti Karoge Mr. Sahani Jeena Sirf Merre Liye Editor/Publisher SaathiyaOm Sehgal 2003 Tujhe Meri Kasam Satish Khanna Love at Times Square Gujarati Motel Owner Ishq Vishk Mr. Mathur Chalte Chalte Manubhai Kuch Naa Kaho Rakesh (Raj's Uncle) Kal Ho Naa Ho Karshan Bhai Patel Out of Control Flower 2004 Masti Dr. Suresh Kapadia Main Hoon Na Prof. Madhav Rasai Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Suraj Prakash Kis Kiski Kismat Rafsanjani 2005 Bachke Rehna Re Baba Gutkha Baron Mansukhani Pyaar Mein Twist Karam Khanna Ramji Londonwaley Immigration officer Vishambal Mehra Shaadi No. 1 Kothari 2006 Fanaa Colonel Love Ke Chakkar Mein Neha's Father Panga Na Lo Karsanbhai Shah Sandwich Chelaramani Dil Laga Ke Dekho Deewana Tere Naam Ka 2007 Om Shanti Om Partho Das Just Married Chaturvedi 2008 Bhootnath Principal J.J. Irani Dhoom Dadakka Jignesh De Taali 2009 Horn 'OK' Pleassss Mr. Fraud Kal Kissne Dekha Kapoor 2010 Chance Pe Dance School Principal Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai Rajesh's Father Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai Milenge Milenge Trilok Kapoor Khichdi: The Movie Ishwar Buddhidev 2011 Ra.One Iyer Uncle2012 Gola Berij Peston Kaka Marathi-language filmA New Love Ishtory DD 2013 Ramaiya Vastavaiya Krishnakant Club 60 Mansukhani 2014 Humshakals Mr. Y.M. Raj

Television

Awards YearAward CategoryWorkResult 1985 Filmfare Awards Best Performance in a Comic Role Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro 2005 Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actor in a Comic RoleSarabhai vs Sarabhai Indian Telly Awards 2006 2017 Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actor - Web Series In 2026, he has been awarded with Padma Shri by the government of India.