English
English
English
Just hours before his sudden death, Satish Shah sent Ratna Pathak a cheeky WhatsApp joke- and then, silence. What happened between that playful message and the heartbreaking news left everyone stunned.
Ratna shared her last conversation with Satish.
The world of Indian television and comedy lost one of its brightest stars with the sudden passing of Satish Shah, the beloved actor best known as Indravadan Sarabhai from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. What makes his departure even more heartbreaking is how normal, even lighthearted, his last few hours were.
Just two and a half hours before he passed away, he had exchanged a typically witty WhatsApp message with his long-time co-star and dear friend Ratna Pathak Shah.
Bollywood and TV Stars Mourns Satish Shah: Rupali Ganguly breaks down in final rites
In a heartfelt tribute published in The Indian Express, Ratna Pathak Shah revealed the details of her last conversation with Satish. On October 25 at 12:57 PM, Satish texted her, “I’m often mistaken for an adult because of my age.”
It was a classic Satish Shah line playful, self-deprecating, and full of humor. Ratna replied at 2:14 PM, teasing him back: “That’s just right for you!”
Just over two hours later, at 3:49 PM, she received an unexpected message from producer JD Majethia: “Satishbhai is no more.”
Ratna wrote that she couldn’t believe what she was reading. “He was always someone who lived fully and came out smiling,” she recalled. The thought that a man so full of life could be gone within hours of sharing a joke left her and their Sarabhai family shattered.
Soon after the news of his passing spread, speculation about the cause of death began circulating online. While some reports suggested kidney failure, actor Rajesh Kumar, who played Rosesh Sarabhai, clarified the truth.
Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Rajesh said, “Yes, he had a kidney issue, but that wasn’t the cause. He actually passed away due to a heart attack.”
Rajesh described the day as completely ordinary for Satish. “He was at home, having lunch, and then he just… passed away,” he said, adding that the suddenness of it all was deeply shocking.
He further explained that Satish’s kidney condition had already been managed and was under control. “He was doing well. None of us saw this coming,” Rajesh said emotionally.
For millions of fans across India, Satish Shah will forever be remembered as Indravadan Sarabhai the witty, mischievous patriarch who brought laughter to countless living rooms. His impeccable comic timing, natural charm, and effortless chemistry with Ratna Pathak Shah as Maya Sarabhai made the show a timeless classic.
‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’ fame actor Satish Shah passed away; Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit confirmed
But beyond the screen, Satish was known as a warm, jovial presence who treated his colleagues like family. His co-stars and friends describe him as someone who never missed a chance to share a joke, lighten a mood, or make someone laugh-even in his final hours.
Ratna’s tribute captures this perfectly: “He lived life smiling, and he left us the same way smiling.”
As tributes pour in from fans, colleagues, and the film fraternity, one sentiment echoes above all—Satish Shah’s loss feels personal. His work, from Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi to Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, defined generations of Indian television comedy.
In his last message, he made his friends laugh. In his life, he made a nation smile. And in his sudden passing, he reminded everyone how fleeting even the happiest moments can be.
