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Sachin Pilgaonkar remembers Satish Shah after his death at 74, revealing his health struggles, last text, and their deep friendship since Gammat Jammat.
Satish Shah’s close friend and filmmaker Sachin Pilgaonkar, who first worked with him on the Marathi classic Gammat Jammat, shares heartbreaking details about Shah’s final months and their enduring friendship.
Satish Shah breathed his last this afternoon at the age of 74. His health suddenly deteriorated at home, following which he was rushed to Hinduja Hospital, where he succumbed to kidney-related ailments. In a career spanning more than four decades, the veteran actor worked on popular films like Jaane Bhi Fo Yaaro, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Main Hoon Na, Kal Ho Na Ho and Om Shanti Om, among others.
But his career wasn’t just restricted to Hindi films. He featured in many plays, and did television series like Dekh Bhai Dekh and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. He also did Marathi films. And it was on his first Marathi film set that he met Sachin Pilgaonkar. Pilgaonkar directed the film titled Gammat Jammat and it marked the beginning of a very deep friendship. Speaking exclusively to News18 Showsha, he reveals some heartbreaking details about Shah’s life in the past few months.
EXCERPTS
Gammat Jammat was the first Marathi film he acted in. We needed a reason to come together and this 1987 film was just that. We never worked after that ever again. But we clicked as friends big time on the sets of that film. Satish, his wife Madhu, Supriya and I became very, very close. And soon, me-Supriya, Satish-Madhu, Ashok Saraf-his wife and Laxmikant Berde-his wife became a group. These four couples would come for a get-together at least twice or thrice a month. Surprisingly, Satish and I never worked after Gammat Jammat but that didn’t stop us from becoming close friends.
Satish and Madhu have always been extremely warm and lovable. We saw to it that we invite them for the premieres of all our films. They used to come for the screenings, the parties. They were always there in our list of guests and invitees. We couldn’t celebrate anything without them. And now, I’m wondering how we can celebrate events without him!
Unfortunately, even Madhu isn’t well. She has Alzheimer’s. This year, Satish got his kidney transplanted. He wanted to extend his wife so that he could take care of Madhu. He was on dialysis. Earlier, he underwent a bypass surgery, which was successful.
Supriya went to visit Satish and Madhu just three days back. I couldn’t go because I was shooting. He played some music and Supriya and Madhu danced. Madhu recalled how she would dance cha-cha-cha.
Satish and I would keep exchanging texts. In fact, I received a message from him at 12:56 pm today, which means that he was absolutely fine even at that time. That I’m in shock is an understatement. Industry ka loss toh hua hi aur woh baat alag hai but it’s a very, very big personal loss to me.
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.
~ As told to Titas Chowdhury
Titas Chowdhury is a Special Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing breakin…Read More
Titas Chowdhury is a Special Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing breakin… Read More
October 25, 2025, 19:02 IST
