Anupam Kher shares emotional story of meeting late Satish Shah’s wife, Madhu, who is battling Alzheimer’s: She first recognised me and said...

Anupam Kher talks about his meet with Satish Shah wife Madhu after his demise

Anupam Kher, a veteran actor, recently shared a heartfelt story about his visit to Madhu Shah, the late friend and long-time coworker Satish Shah's wife, who passed away earlier this month.

Anupam revealed that he went to meet her soon after returning from Switzerland, but admitted that the experience left him heartbroken.

Madhu, who is reportedly in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, often slips between moments of awareness and forgetfulness — sometimes remembering her husband’s passing, and at other times, not realising he is gone.

In a heartfelt video posted on Instagram, Anupam opened up about his mixed emotions before the visit. Writing in Hindi, he said he was anxious about how to approach her, unsure of how much she remembered.

“I knew she was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, but I didn’t know whether I should even mention Satish’s name,” he shared. “I was afraid that it might bring back painful memories.”

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Despite his hesitation, Anupam said he wanted to keep his promise to Madhu — to visit her often and make sure she wasn’t alone. Describing their interaction, he recalled, “Madhu first recognised me and said, ‘Thank you for coming.’ And then she lost her memory… Woh phases mein aata hai (it comes in phases). She asked me how I was, and I didn’t want to talk about Satish’s death because I didn’t know how to bring it up. I didn’t want to trigger her sadness.”

At one point, he said, Madhu suddenly became aware of her loss. “She suddenly said, ‘Chala gaya’ (he has gone). Tears filled her eyes — and then, in another moment, she forgot again.”

Trying to lift her spirits, Anupam joined her in singing a few songs — something Madhu has always loved. “We sang together,” he said. “And I recorded some videos with her permission. She even told me to come again soon and eat food made by her.”

In one of the clips, Madhu spoke warmly about Kirron Kher, admiring her saree collection. When Anupam told her that Kirron often calls her beautiful, she smiled and said, “I don’t mind that.”

Even though there were smiles and laughter, Anupam admitted that he was fighting back tears throughout the visit. “I had to remind myself that her memory isn’t the same anymore,” he said softly. “But I still felt bad, selfish even, for thinking that maybe she wasn’t feeling the pain of Satish’s loss as intensely as I was.”

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Before leaving, Madhu said something that broke him completely. “When I was about to go, she said, ‘Come again for lunch, but… he may not be there.’ I somehow held my tears until I stepped out of the house — and then, I couldn’t control them.”

He ended his message with a gentle reminder for everyone: “Life is fragile. Don’t wait to tell your parents, siblings, or friends how much they mean to you. Don’t live with regrets.”

Satish Shah, one of Indian cinema’s most loved and versatile actors, passed away on 25 October at the age of 74 after collapsing at his Mumbai home. Although he had undergone a kidney transplant earlier this year, his cause of death was confirmed as a heart attack.

His funeral and prayer meet were attended by close friends, family, and industry colleagues, a fitting tribute to a man remembered for his warmth, laughter, and kindness.