Vivek Agnihotri remembers late actor Satish Shah: 'We wanted him in The Kashmir Files, he laughed and said...'

Veteran actor Satish Shah passed away at the age of 74 after kidney failure. Many people from the entertainment industry remembered the late actor and one of them was filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri.

The director wrote a long tweet that read- “SATISH SHAH: The Comedian Who Chose Silence I was new in Bombay then, making ad films and telefilms. I met Satish Shah at a party. I was seated next to him. Like anyone who had grown up watching Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, I expected the same loud laughter and familiar humour. But I discovered someone else. Quiet. Gentle. Deep. A man of subtle presence, grace and warmth.”

SATISH SHAH: The Comedian Who Chose Silence

I was new in Bombay then, making ad films and telefilms. I met Satish Shah at a party. I was seated next to him. Like anyone who had grown up watching Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, I expected the same loud laughter and… pic.twitter.com/7bQtHlSDZB

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) October 26, 2025

More from Entertainment

Milap Zaveri on 'Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat' success: 'It shows the power of Harshvardhan Rane, if we had the single screens from day one...' Zubeen Garg's last film 'Roi Roi Binale' creates history in advance bookings for an Assamese film, collects Rs 41.20 lakh gross for day 1

He added, “In the years that followed, I met him many times. Each time, I felt the same thing. He was an actor who knew how to pack up. Not just from the set. But from ego. From noise. From the constant hunger for praise that most in our industry carry. He never chased compliments. He was content in being. That is rare. We wanted him in The Kashmir Files. When Pallavi called, he laughed and said, he no longer remembered long dialogues. “Vivek writes those long monologues and wants them spoken in one take. So either he writes short dialogues or I learn them. Both are difficult.” I told Pallavi, “Fine. I will make a film with short dialogues. But he has to act with me. One more time.”

“Just a few days ago, Pallavi and Satish spoke again on FTII work. He confirmed attending the meeting. I asked Pallavi to tell him that I am planning a short, silent film. And that he is doing it. Before that message could reach him in person, he went into the silence himself. A silence beyond words. Satish did something extraordinary for Indian comedy. He made us laugh without becoming a joke. He played characters that were larger than the scene, yet never larger than life. Even in the most over the top films, his performance stayed human. Believable. Lovable. There was a certain glint in his eyes. A spark of kindness. A quiet joy of simply being alive. That is how I will remember him. A gentle soul behind the laughter. A noble presence behind the performance. Satish, you will live. Because true artists do not die. They simply step into a deeper silence. And keep speaking from there.”