Rajesh Kumar clarifies Satish Shah’s cause of death; says, ‘It was a sudden heart attack, not kidney failure’

Earlier, Satish Shah’s manager Ramesh Kadatala had also confirmed that the actor collapsed while having lunch.

Veteran actor Satish Shah passed away on October 25 at the age of 74. His death sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with fans and colleagues mourning the loss of one of Indian television’s most iconic performers.

While early reports suggested that the actor had succumbed to kidney failure, his co-star Rajesh Kumar has now come forward to clarify the real cause behind his death. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Rajesh Kumar shared that the veteran actor actually died of a heart attack, not kidney-related complications. “I can’t tell you how emotional these last 24–25 hours have been. It’s very difficult to even express it. But I do want to clarify a few things about Satishji’s passing. Yes, he did have a kidney issue, but he actually passed away due to a heart attack,” he said.

Rajesh added, “He was at home, having lunch, and then he just... passed away. I wanted to clarify this because some reports are saying it was due to kidney problems. The kidney issue had already been dealt with; it was under control. Unfortunately, it was a sudden cardiac arrest that took him away.”

Earlier, Satish Shah’s manager Ramesh Kadatala had also confirmed that the actor collapsed while having lunch. He revealed that although an ambulance was called immediately, it arrived after nearly 30 minutes, and by the time Satish Shah was rushed to the hospital, doctors had declared him dead.

Also read: ‘Sarabhai Family’ sings iconic theme song at Satish Shah’s prayer meet in emotional farewell

His funeral took place at a crematorium in Bandra, attended by close friends and colleagues including Farah Khan, Johnny Lever, Suresh Oberoi, and the entire Sarabhai vs Sarabhai cast who were seen deeply emotional as they bid their final goodbyes.

A prayer meet was later held on October 27 at Jalaram Hall, Juhu, where singer Sonu Nigam paid a soulful tribute by performing some of Satish’s favourite songs. His rendition of Mohammed Rafi’s Tere Mere Sapne left everyone teary-eyed. Satish’s wife, Madhu, who is battling Alzheimer’s disease, too sang along.