Satish Shah — The actor who defined versatility in stereotyping

Indians are very quick to typecast. Once an actor falls into a mould, or gets characterized as a "comedian", a "villain", a "bahu" or a "vamp", it is next to impossible to break free from that. Satish Shah, who passed away on Saturday, at the age of 74, falls into that category of "comedians" who were typecast, stereotyped, but ensured that they owned every frame they featured in, and who were flawless in executing the only motto of their craft - get the audience to laugh.

Satish Shah has achieved immortality as Indravardhan Sarabhai from possibly one of India's most well made sitcoms Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai (2004-2006, 2017) but his foundations as an actor of repute came from the show that laid the foundation of Indian sitcoms - Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984). While the late Shafi Inamdar and Swaroop Sampat became household names as Ranjit and Renu, it was Satish Shah who turned out to be a scene stealer by playing a different character in each of the 50-odd episodes that the show ran for.

The problem of being typecast is you end up trying too hard to prove that you have a lot more to offer than the stereotype you're known for. Shah tried his hands at roles beyond the usual comic acts as well, usually in forgettable films like Bade Ghar Ki Beti (1989) where he played an ungrateful, greedy son, or in Sainik (1993) where he played the father-in-law of a soldier presumed dead. However, he stuck to what he knew best, and we could not be more grateful for that.

A tribute to Satish Shah would be incomplete if we don't talk about Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983), where his dead municipal Commissioner D'mello turned out to be the highlight of the film, particularly in the evergreen and memorable climax sequence. The movie was proof that a good actor doesn't need seetimaar Dialogues to shine, he can do it even when playing dead, with his eyes closed, and with no expressions whatsoever!

Not many would know that the very popular Ghar Jamai (1998) was originally made in the 80s with Ananth Mahadevan playing Subbu, the character which Madhavan played in the 90s version. The only common factor? Satish Shah playing the loud, Punjabi father-in-law Vishambher Mehra in both the versions, and Mahadevan donning the directors hat in the show that became a part of my childhood.

The great Javed Akhtar in one of the episodes of Classic Legends dedicated to the late Raj Kapoor, summarized his end which would fit Satish Shah as well. Unke zehan ne, unke talent ne unka saath nahi choda, sehat ne unka saath chod dia.

(His talent never gave up on him, his health eventually did.) Shah cut down on work by the 2010s due to health issues, not before giving us the final bow as who else, but Indravardhan Sarabhai in the second season of the cult show in 2019.

Rest in Glory, Satish Shah. Thank you for giving us a character like Indu Sarabhai, making our growing-up years memorable and shaping our personalities through your wit, sarcasm and impeccable comic timing.  Your journey was just as the title track of Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi went by:

Yeh

Jo Hai Zindagi Thodi Meethi, Thodi Khatti, Thodi Tikhi, Thodi Fikki, Phir Bhi Isko Haskar, Jeene Ka Ek Alag Hi Hai Maza!