Bollywood actor-director Satish Kaushik dies of heart attack
Leaving his admirers and friends in the film industry shocked, Bollywood filmmaker and comedian Satish Chandra Kaushik died from a sudden heart attack on the way to hospital, actor Anupam Kher informed on Thursday over Twitter. He was 66.
"I know death is the ultimate truth of this world! But I never dreamed I will write this thing about you my dear friend #SatishKaushik, Such a sudden end to 45 years of friendship!! Life will NEVER be the same without you SATISH! Om Shanti! 💔💔💔," tweeted Anupam Kher about his many films' co-actor and work partner, who was a successful director, producer, comedian and screenwriter.
जानता हूँ “मृत्यु ही इस दुनिया का अंतिम सच है!” पर ये बात मैं जीते जी कभी अपने जिगरी दोस्त #SatishKaushik के बारे में लिखूँगा, ये मैंने सपने में भी नहीं सोचा था।45 साल की दोस्ती पर ऐसे अचानक पूर्णविराम !! Life will NEVER be the same without you SATISH ! ओम् शांति! 💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/WC5Yutwvqc
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) March 8, 2023
The actor was in Delhi when he suffered the heart attack while travelling in a car in Gurugram. His body will be brought to Mumbai, reports said.
He became popular essaying the role of "Calendar" in Shekhar Kapur's 1987 film Mr. India which starred Sridevi and Anil Kapoor. He also acted in India's cult movie and satirical black comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro made in 1983 by Kundan Shah.
It’s just shattering that we lost our one best friend #DEAR SATISH - a man who always laughed even in worst crisis and stood by anyone in his crisis “ A great artiste.Greater human being greatest friend I know🙏🏽 left us so sudden so soon. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/jxwE1uf77m
— Subhash Ghai (@SubhashGhai1) March 9, 2023
Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor, director and writer Satish Kaushik Ji. His contribution to Indian cinema, artistic creations and performances will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to his bereaved family and followers. Om Shanti Shanti
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 9, 2023
He played popular characters like Pappu Pager in Deewana Mastana, and as "Chanu Ahmed" in Sarah Gavron's British film Brick Lane (2007). He won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award twice: in 1990 for Ram Lakhan and in 1997 for Saajan Chale Sasural.
Satish was born on 13 April 1956 in Mahendragarh, Haryana. He graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi in 1972. He was an alumnus of both the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India.
Shocked to hear of the passing of our beloved Satish Kaushik ji. A most gentle, kind and loving person. Always happy and smiling. A huge loss to our industry. Rest in peace dearest Satish uncle. We will all miss you. 🙏🏽
— Abhishek 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧 (@juniorbachchan) March 9, 2023
He was also a theatre actor and performed on stage in the Hindi play "Willy Loman", an adaptation of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
His first film as a director was Sridevi-Anil Kapoor's Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993). His second was Prem (1995). While both were flops he tasted success with with Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain in 1999, starring Kajol and Anil Kapoor.
In 2005, Kaushik directed Arjun Rampal, Amisha Patel and Zayed Khan in Vaada.
In 2007 Kaushik, together with Anupam Kher, who had been his batchmate at NSD, launched a new film company called Karol Bagh Productions. Their first film, Teree Sang, was directed by Satish Kaushik.
He was married to Shashi Kaushik. While the couple's first child, a son, died in 1996 when he was only two years old, in 2012, his daughter Vanshika was born through surrogacy.
When Satish Kaushik offered to marry single mother Neena Gupta
In her autobiography Sach Kahun Toh, actor Neena Gupta spoke about the man Satish Kaushik was. She wrote that when she as an umarried woman became pregnant with West Indies cricketer Viv Richards’ child (now famous fashion designer Masaba), Kaushik had offered to her that she pass the child off as his after getting married.
“Don’t worry, if the child is born with dark skin, you can just say it’s mine and we’ll get married. Nobody will suspect a thing," he reportedly told Neena Gupta who was his friend since 1975.
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