Satish Shah, widely recognised as a masterful comic actor, passed away on Saturday, October 25, after a battle with kidney complications. The actor's most prominent roles are as Commissioner D'Mello in Kundan Shah's Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and as the titular patriarch Indravadhan Sarabhai in the TV show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. However, the actor's characters also feature in many hit films from the late 1990s and early 2000s, some of which star Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. In a poignant coincidence, some of the memorable films featuring Satish are set to be screened as part of the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan Film Festival, starting October 31. The festival offers the audience a timely opportunity to revisit and celebrate the diverse career of this beloved actor.
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
Satish's Simon Gonsalves, father of Suchitra Krishnamurthy's character Anna, a bakery owner, and a diabetes patient with a sweet tooth, brings a touch of lightheartedness and heartfelt drama to this iconic coming-of-age comedy drama. A particular scene where he begs his family for a piece of cake is memorable for the effortless charm the actor brought to the role. It is a gag that keeps repeating itself in the film, but Satish makes it unique each time with his trademark quirks and antics. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa marked Satish Shah's first collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan, one that continued into the next decade, with a few more memorable turns.
Main Hoon Na
Who can forget Professor Madhav Rasai in Farah Khan's 2004 film Main Hoon Na? The professor, who has a habit of spitting while speaking, is one of the actor's most easily recognisable roles. Each time he speaks, especially to Shah Rukh's Army officer-turned-student, he emits plenty of saliva. With a lesser actor, it could have easily been crass. However, Satish Shah's endearing screen persona and witty sense of humour made it memorable. Interestingly, even Mumbai Police made a reference to one of the hilarious scenes in the film during the COVID-19 period.
Om Shanti Om
Satish would reunite with Farah in another ensemble comedy, this time a spoof of the film industry, Om Shanti Om. While small, Satish's role as a director helps establish the period setting. In one particularly hilarious moment, he recommends using three different camera angles for a shot: the 'Bimal Roy angle,' the 'Satyajit Ray Angle,' and the 'Guru Dutt angle'. He is the director of the film that Deepika Padukone's Shantipriya shoots for and where Shah Rukh appears as a junior artist. In a way, the character helps establish the circumstances of the two protagonists' lives prior to their reincarnation.
The Shah Rukh Khan Film Festival is set to take place for two weeks, starting next Friday, in over 75 screens across over 30 cities in India. It will also happen in the Middle East, the UK, North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Titles such as Chennai Express, Jawan, Dil Se, and Devdas are part of the festival lineup, alongside the aforementioned films. While the festival mainly aims to bring back some of the most memorable titles of a superstar, it also serves as a snapshot of the many supporting actors in them, including the legendary Satish Shah. The actor's roles, even the briefest ones, remain indelible, which is a testament to his comic genius.
