News Desk
26 October 2025, 08:50 PM IST
Satish Shah, who passed away at 74, underwent a kidney transplant to care for his Alzheimer’s-stricken wife Madhu, marking a love story that spanned five decades.
Satish Shah with wife Madhu | File photo: Getty images
As the Bollywood fraternity bid a tearful farewell to veteran actor Satish Shah, whose cremation was held in Mumbai on Sunday, tributes poured in for the beloved star known for his unforgettable roles in ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’, ‘Main Hoon Na’, ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’. Shah passed away at the age of 74 due to kidney failure, just three months after undergoing a kidney transplant surgery.
According to fellow actor Sachin Pilgaonkar, Shah chose to undergo the transplant solely because he wanted to live longer to care for his wife Madhu Shah, who has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Sadly, fate had other plans. The couple’s remarkable love story has since captured the hearts of many.
Their journey began in the early 1970s at the SIPTA Film Festival, where Shah met Madhu for the first time and instantly fell in love. Initially, Madhu rejected his proposal.
Later, on the sets of ‘Saath Saath’, starring Deepti Naval and Farooq Sheikh, Shah proposed again, only to face another refusal. Yet he persisted, and on his third attempt, Madhu agreed to introduce him to her parents. After winning their approval, the couple got engaged and eventually married in 1972, eight months later.
Madhu, a fashion designer, also worked as an actress and producer, appearing in notable films such as ‘Dhundthe Reh Jaaoge’ (1998) and ‘Hum Tere Aashiq Hain’ (1979). Despite her husband’s fame on Indian television, she chose to live away from the limelight. The couple, who were married for over five decades, reportedly had no children and maintained a deeply private life.
Reports suggest that Shah often avoided long outdoor shoots because he disliked being away from Madhu. From his early theatre days to his rise as one of India’s most loved comic actors, Madhu remained his pillar of strength. Shah frequently expressed his devotion and affection for his wife, referring to her as his “lucky charm”.
The two were often seen together at film industry events. Satish Shah is best remembered for his iconic portrayal of Indravadan Sarabhai in the cult sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, a role that cemented his place in Indian television history.
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