Nobody would’ve imagined that producer-director-actor Satish Kaushik would bid adieu to this world hours after he had played Holi with friends and relatives in Gurgaon where he had gone for work. The brilliant actor, who has played some memorable characters in films, breathed his last in the early morning hours of today (9th March) following a heart attack. His Man Friday, Santosh, who never used to leave his side, rushed him to Fortis Hospital when Kaushik complained of acidity and discomfort after dinner yesterday. But the doctors declared him brought dead. He was 66. He was staying with a friend in Gurgaon.
Satish’s body will be flown to Bombay today after the post mortem formalities are completed. The funeral will be held today.
Satish is survived by his wife, Shashi, and a daughter. Kaushik had a son who had passed away when he was just two years old.
The 66-year-old Satish Kaushik had just completed Kaagaz 2, and was looking forward to announcing Kaagaz 3. Although Kaagaz had had only a namesake theatrical release during the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown and was released primarily on Zee5, he was keen to release the sequel extensively in cinemas before having it streamed digitally. Kaushik was also excited about two Haryanvi films he was to announce very soon. Haryana was very close to his heart as he was from Haryana. He had won the National Award for the best feature film in Haryanvi, for his maiden Haryanvi production venture, Chhoriyan Chhoron Se Ram Rai Hoti. Satish Kaushik was a partner in the Chandigarh Film City project with the real estate company, Parshvnath Developers. He was also a partner with Sushil Chaudhary in PictureTime, a company which takes inflatable cinemas to remote towns and villages which lack cinema facilities.
A man full of life, it seems almost impossible to believe that the ever-smiling Satish is no more. He played a number of characters which became landmark in their own ways. Calendar (his character) in Mr. India, Pappu Pager in Deewana Mastana, Airport in Swarg, Kashiram in Ram Lakhan, Mutthu Swamy in Saajan Chale Sasural and Sharafat Ali in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan were some of his very popular characters. Among the other films he acted in were Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Woh 7 Din, Masoom, Mandi, Utsav, Saagar, Jalwa, Vardi, Joshilaay, Prem Pratigyaa, Andaz, Mr. And Mrs. Khiladi, Gharwali Baharwali, Aunty No. 1 and Chhota Chetan (3D).
The names of the characters he used to play in films were often funny. This was another reason, besides the fact that he made the characters memorable with his phenomenal acting, why they (characters) remained etched in people’s minds for a long time. Batuklal (Saagar), ‘BBC’ Banke Bihari Chaturvedi (Jamai Raja), Panipuri Sharma (Andaz), Chanda Mama (Mr. And Mrs. Khiladi), Jumbo (Gharwali Baharwali), Mr. Pareshan (Aunty No. 1), Ghanya Seth (Qila), Prof. Chashmish (Chhota Chetan), Shaadilal (Rajaji), German (Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain), Chutki Prasad (Papa The Great), Johnny English (Dhoom Dadakka), Chacha Panju (Hum Tum Shabana), Gullu Gulfam (Chatur Singh Two Star) and BMC (Baaghi 3) were the names of some of the varied characters he had played in films. Although he shone in almost every kind of character he played, comedy was his forte. In fact, he was so fun-loving that comedy came to him naturally. He often spoke about the time he was a struggling actor, doing the rounds of producers’ offices for even bit roles in films. In one such production office, the producer asked him if he had any photographs of his to show. With a straight face, he replied, “I’ve come straight from the hospital. So I have not got my pictures, but I do have my X-ray with me, may I show you that?” Luckily for the budding actor, the producer loved his sense of humour and signed him for his upcoming film.
The screen comedian was also an extremely emotional person. Boney Kapoor, for whom he directed Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and Prem, tells of this incident post the release of the former film which was also Kaushik’s maiden directorial venture. Although the film had bombed, the unit’s promotional campaign was on even after its release during the first weekend. The cast and crew were all cinema-hopping in a luxury bus. Satish was seated in front of Boney Kapoor who thought it proper to break the bad news to his director. Moments after Boney told Satish that the film had tanked at the box-office and got talking to others in the bus, he heard sounds of sniffle. Shocked, he craned his neck to check if it was Satish making the sounds. To his horror then, he saw the debut filmmaker sobbing! Of course, the horror story became a fun story for all later times, which both, Boney and Satish Kaushik used to gleefully narrate to friends.
Among the other films directed by Satish Kaushik were Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (in which he introduced Tusshar Kapoor), Badhaai Ho Badhaai, Tere Naam (with Salman Khan), Shaadi Se Pehle, Karzzzz, Milenge Milenge, Gangs Of Ghosts and Kaagaz. Among the films produced by him were Kyon Ki, Darna Zaroori Hai, Dhol and Bumm Bumm Bole. Years back, he had formed a production company, Karol Bagh Productions, in partnership with Anupam Kher, one of his closest friends in the industry. Teree Sang was produced under this banner. Satish also co-wrote and anchored the very popular television countdown show of its time, Philips Top 10.
Satish Kaushik was a student of the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India.
