‘Satish Shah, better dead than alive’: When the actor recalled playing a dead body in ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’ | Hindi Movie News

Satish Shah, who passed away at the age of 74, is widely remembered for his unforgettable role as Indravadan Sarabhai in the cult television series ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’. Beyond television, his portrayal of Municipal Commissioner D’Mello in Kundan Shah’s classic film ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’ remains iconic. Once, the actor talked about his character in ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’ and shared memorable moments from the set.Remembering the dead body roleTalking to News18, the late actor Satish Shah had once recalled, “I even got a headline in a newspaper that said ‘Satish Shah, better dead than alive.’ I had a guy coming to my brother’s office. He used to talk this type of Hindi, which stuck in my mind, and I played my character. I thought if this thing is tested in it then I would like to do it. I was not thinking about the film; I was thinking about my own character. That’s why I enjoyed playing the dead body; that’s why I guess people enjoyed seeing me as a dead body. I kind of told Kundan I am getting very bored playing a dead body. I was giving suggestions to Om Puri and others who were around me performing. I could not actively participate; I was participating through my colleague.”Career milestones‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’ was a crucial milestone in Shah’s early acting journey. After graduating from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), he quickly earned fame for his sharp comic timing and his ability to play a variety of roles. The success of this film helped propel him to widespread popularity, particularly with his performances in the popular Doordarshan show ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’ (1984), firmly establishing him as one of India’s most beloved comedic actors.Tributes after his passingVeteran actor Satish Shah’s passing has deeply saddened the film and television fraternity. The actor died at the age of 74 on October 25 due to kidney failure. He is survived by his wife, Madhu Shah. On October 26, the beloved ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’ star’s final rites were held, with well-known personalities from Hindi cinema and television paying their respects to honor his remarkable legacy.