Satish Kaushik, an actor-filmmaker, died of a heart attack early Thursday morning, according to his close friend and industry colleague Anupam Kher. He was 66.
According to Kher, Kaushik complained of feeling uneasy while visiting a friend in Delhi.
“He felt uneasy and told the driver to take him to the hospital; on the way, he had a heart attack around 1 a.m.,” Kher told PTI.
Kher had earlier tweeted that he was shocked to learn of Kaushik’s untimely death.
“I know that death is the ultimate truth, but I never imagined that I would have to write that about my best friend Satish Kaushik. 45 years of friendship came to an abrupt end. Life will never be the same again.
Satish, life will never be the same without you! Om Shanti,” Kher wrote on Twitter.
Kaushik, a graduate of the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India, is best known for his roles in films such as “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron”, “Mr India”, “Deewana Mastana”, and “Udta Punjab”.
Kaushik’s most recent tweet was a collection of photos from the annual Holi celebrations in Mumbai, which were organised by noted lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar on March 7.
“Colourful Happy Fun #Holi party at Janki Kutir Juhu by @Javedakhtarjadu @babaazmi @AzmiShabana @tanviazmi… met the newly married beautiful couple @alifazal9 @RichaChadha… wishing Happy Holi to everyone #friendship #festival #Holi2023 #colours,” he wrote.
Kaushik was a director as well as a comedian. His most popular films as a director are “Tere Naam,” starring Salman Khan, and “Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai,” starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tusshar Kapoor.
Actor Kangana Ranaut, who worked with Kaushik in her upcoming film “Emergency”, remembered the actor as a “kind and genuine man”.
“I awoke to this terrible news; he was my biggest cheerleader, a very successful actor, and director named #SatishKaushik ji, who was also a very kind and genuine man, and I loved directing him in Emergency. Om Shanti, he will be missed “She used Twitter.
His wife and daughter survive him.