STATE TIMES NEWS
Mumbai: Actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik, known for his memorable comic roles in films such as “Jaane Bhi do Yaaro” and “Mr India”, passed away following a heart attack early Thursday morning. He was 66.
According to friend and colleague Anupam Kher, Kaushik was at a friend’s home in Delhi when he complained of uneasiness.
“He felt uneasy and he told his driver to take him to the hospital and on the way he suffered a heart attack around 1 am,” Kher told PTI. In a tweet earlier, Kher said he was shocked to hear about Kaushik’s sudden death.
“I know that death is the ultimate truth but never in my dreams I thought that I would have to write this about my best friend Satish Kaushik. A sudden full stop to 45 years of friendship. Life will never be the same without you Satish! Om Shanti,” Kher tweeted.
An alumnus of the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India, Kaushik was a multi-faceted personality who co-wrote the dialogues for Kundan Shah’s “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro” with Ranjit Kapoor. He also played the role of Ashok, the assistant to Pankaj Kapur’s corrupt contractor Tarneja in 1983 cult classic.
Another memorable role of Kaushik is of the lovable Calendar in Shekhar Kapoor’s sci-fi drama “Mr India”, the cook at the orphanage run by Anil Kapoor’s character in the film.
Kapoor and Kaushik worked together in a number of films such as “Ram Lakhan”, “Jamai Raja”, “Andaz”, “Gharwali Baharwali” and Kaushik’s directorial debut “Roop Ki Raani Choron Ka Raja” among other directorial ventures.
Kaushik’s comic pairing with Govinda yielded some of the biggest hits of the 90s in films such as “Swarg”, “Saajan Chale Sasural”, “Deewana Mastana”, “Pardesi Babu”, “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”, “Aunty No 1” and “Haseena Maan Jayegi” to name a few.
He was a successful director with a wide-ranging filmography that began with 1993’s “Roop Ki Raani Choron Ka Raja”, had hits such “Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain”, “Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai”, “Badhaai Ho Badhaai”, Salman Khan-starrer hit “Tere Naa” that memorably sparked a middle-parted hairstyle trend in youngsters.
He also directed “Vaada”, “Shadi Se Pehle”, “Karzzz”, “Milenge Milenge”, “Gang of Ghosts” and most recently, the 2021 film “Kaagaz” with Pankaj Tripathi.
Kaushik’s last post on his official Twitter account was a series of pictures from the annual Holi celebrations organised by noted lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar on March 7 in Mumbai. “Colourful Happy Fun #Holi party at Janki Kutir Juhu by @Javedakhtarjadu @babaazmi @AzmiShabana @tanviazmi.. met the newly wed beautiful couple @alifazal9 @RichaChadha .. wishing Happy Holi to everyone #friendship #festival #Holi2023 #colors,” he wrote.