Satish Shah’s sudden death left a deep void in his fans and loved ones. The humble-hearted man is remembered for his childish nature and for being a prankster among his friends. Satish started his acting career in the 1970s and gradually became a household name. Over the years, he appeared on television shows such as Ghar Jamai, Filmy Chakkar, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.
Hr played the role of municipal commissioner, ‘D’Mello’ in the cult classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, followed by films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Main Hoon Na, Fanaa, Om Shanti Om, and more. Like his simple on-screen characters, Satish also led a simple life off-screen. The actor had been married to his soulmate, Madhu Shah, for 50 years and was madly in love with her.
Satish Shah proposed to Madhu three times
Satish Shah was studying at Xavier’s College when he thought of taking acting seriously and entered FTII. It was during the SIPTA Film Festival that Satish met Madhu for the first time and instantly fell in love with her. He proposed to her and she rejected his proposal. Later, Dilip Dhawan offered her a small role in his film, Saath Saath, and he agreed to do it.
The shooting of Saath Saath was scheduled to take place at SNDT College, Juhu, where Madhu studied. The actor tried his luck again and proposed to Madhu, who once again rejected him. Despite being rejected twice, Satish did not relent and continued pursuing her. However, when he proposed to Madhu for the third time, she asked him to talk to her parents.
Satish Shah won over Madhu’s parents
Satish Shah was sure from the beginning that Madhu was the one for him. However, convincing his parents was not an easy task, since marriage for love was a foreign concept at that time. Not only this, Satish’s career in the entertainment world was also not considered an ideal job. However, since Satish was sure that he wanted to marry Madhu, he convinced his parents.
Satish Shah and Madhu Shah decided not to have children
Just a month after convincing his parents, Satish Shah got engaged to Madhu and in 1972, the duo got married. Satish often tagged Madhu as his ‘lucky charm’ as it was only after marrying her that he gained immense fame. On the other hand, Madhu worked as a fashion designer and chose to live away from the limelight. Satish and Madhu were married for 50 years and decided not to have children because they had dedicated their lives to each other.
Satish Shah received a kidney transplant to care for his ailing wife, Madhu Shah
Satish Shah had kidney related problems and was on dialysis. He underwent a kidney transplant in 2025 to prolong his wife’s life. For the unversed, Satish’s wife Madhu suffers from Alzheimer’s and to take care of her, the veteran actor underwent a transplant. Not only this, Satish also previously underwent a successful bypass surgery.
Satish Shah’s last moments before his death
Satish Shah’s manager Ramesh Kadatala revealed details of his final moments in an interaction with ANI. He revealed that Satish Shah was having lunch at 2 or 2:45 pm. He collapsed after taking the first bite of the food. It took half an hour for the ambulance to reach them. Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctor declared him dead.
Two hours before his death, the veteran actor spoke to Ratna Pathak Shah, who played his on-screen wife in Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai. He also spoke to Aatish Kapadia at 11 am on October 25, 2025. The director, JD Majethia, revealed that Satish Shah had spoken to everyone on the phone and told them that he was feeling fine. It seems as if he had an inkling that these were the last moments of his life.
Satish Shah and Madhu Shah had been each other’s pillars of strength throughout the 50 years of their married life. And now, she is left alone and only has memories of her late husband.
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