Actor Satish Shah’s Real Cause of Death Revealed; Rajesh Kumar Clarifies Reports

The real reason behind the death of veteran Bollywood actor Satish Shah has now been revealed, putting an end to widespread speculation. Contrary to earlier reports claiming that he passed away due to kidney failure, actor Rajesh Kumar—who played his son in the cult sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai—has clarified the actual cause.

Satish Shah, aged 74, passed away on October 25. His death left fans and the film industry in deep shock. Earlier reports stated that the actor died from kidney failure following a kidney transplant a few months ago. However, Rajesh Kumar has now confirmed that the veteran actor actually died of a heart attack.

The confusion began after filmmaker Ashoke Pandit shared a condolence post on X (formerly Twitter), mentioning that Shah had succumbed to kidney failure. The post quickly went viral, leading many to believe that to be the official cause of death.

In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Rajesh Kumar expressed his grief and clarified the situation. “The past 24–25 hours have been extremely emotional and difficult to express,” he said. “Yes, Satish ji had kidney-related issues, but the real cause of his death was a sudden heart attack.”

Rajesh further explained how the unfortunate incident took place. “He was having lunch at home when the heart attack occurred. I wanted to make this clear because several reports are suggesting that kidney complications caused his passing. That’s not true. His kidney condition was already under control after treatment—the heart attack was sudden and tragic,” he added.

Satish Shah is survived by his wife, Madhu Shah, who is reportedly suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The couple had no children. Actor Sachin Pilgaonkar, one of Shah’s closest friends and co-stars in Marathi cinema, shared that Satish had undergone a kidney transplant because he wanted to live longer and take care of his wife. “He was on dialysis and was determined to be there for her,” Sachin said.

The entertainment industry continues to mourn the loss of one of its most beloved and respected artists, remembered for his wit, warmth, and remarkable performances across film and television.