BOLLYWOOD actor Satish Shah, whose very presence in films such as “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron” and “Main Hoon Na” and sitcom “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai” elicited smiles and many a laugh, died on Saturday. He was 74. The ever amiable Shah passed away at his residence in Bandra East in the afternoon, Ramesh Kadatala, his trusted aide and personal assistant for over 30 years, told PTI. “He died due to kidney failure.

 

His health suddenly deteriorated at his home and he was taken to Hinduja hospital, where he passed away... It is a huge loss for our industry. He was a jovial person,” close friend and industry colleague Ashoke Pandit told PTI. In a statement, P D Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre said it received an emergency call regarding Shah’s health earlier in the day. “An ambulance with a medical team was immediately sent to his residence, where he was found to be unresponsive. CPR was started in the ambulance itself and continued on arrival at the hospital.

 

Despite the best efforts of our medical team, Mr Shah could not be revived,” the hospital said in a statement. A close friend and collaborator added that Shah had undergone a kidney transplant three months ago. Born on June 25, 1951, Shah was a prominent figure in Indian cinema and television.

 

His career spanned several decades, during which he earnedacclaimforhiscomedic timinginmoviessuchas“Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro”, “Maalamaal”, “HeroHiralal”,“MainHoonNa” and “Kal Ho Naa Ho”. He was married to designer Madhu Shah. His lastrites will be performed at PawanHans cremation ground on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of actor Satish Shah, saying his effortless humour brought laughter into countless lives.

 

A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Shah initially appeared in minor roles in films such as “Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan” (1978) and “Gaman” (1979). He played a small yet pivotal part in Muzaffar Ali’s “UmraoJaan”(1981)asDilawar, the man who sells Rekha’s Amiran to courtesans in Lucknow.

 

Hebecame a household name after he featured in filmmakerKundanShah’s1983 cultclassic“JaaneBhiDoYaaro”, playing the role of the corrupt municipal commissioner D’Mello. The film, a satirical comedy on corruption, starred Shah alongsiderenownedactorslike Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, and Pankaj Kapur.

 

Though his role was largely that of a dead body,itbecameoneofthemost unforgettablepartsofthefilm. His lifeless character, dragged through chaotic sequences including the nowlegendary Mahabharata play scene, became a symbol ofthe film’s absurd humour.