Actor Satish Kaushik succumbs to heart attack at 66; Anupam Kher, Kangana Ranaut & Riteish Deshmukh mourn

Actor and director Satish Kaushik passed away in the wee hours of Thursday morning at the age of 66 following a heart attack.

According to the news agency PTI, the late actor was at a friend's home in Delhi when he complained of uneasiness. He asked his driver to take him to the city hospital and suffered a heart attack on his way. His mortal remains are at the Fortis Hospital, Gurugram, and will be taken to Mumbai after the completion of the postmortem.

Tributes from fans and industry colleagues have been pouring in on social media.


'The Kashmir Files' star Anupam Kher, who is Kaushik's close friend for 45 years, took to social media to confirm the news of his death.

Mourning the loss of his friend's death, Kher said life will never stay the same without his presence. "I know 'death is the ultimate truth of this world!' But I never thought in my dreams that I would write this thing about my best friend Satish Kaushik while alive. Such a sudden full stop on a friendship of 45 years! Life will NEVER be the same without you SATISH! Om Shanti," Kher wrote, in a tweet in Hindi.


Actress Kangana Ranaut, who directed Kaushik in her directorial debut film 'Emergency', also expressed her condolences. She said Kaushik was his "biggest cheerleader." The late actor will be seen playing the role of activist and politician Jagjivan Ram in Kangana Ranaut-starrer 'Emergency'.

"Woke up to this horrible news, he was my biggest cheerleader, a very successful actor and director Satish Kaushik ji personally was also a very kind and genuine man, I loved directing him in 'Emergency'. He will be missed, Om Shanti."


Actor Riteish Deshmukh also took to social media to express his shock.

"Can’t believe you are gone. Your hearty laugh still rings in my ears. Thank you for being a kind and generous co-actor, thank you for being a silent teacher. You will be missed, your legacy will live on in our hearts. Satish Kaushik ji Rest In Peace," he wrote.


Director Madhur Bhandarkar expressed shock to hear the news of Kaushik's demise. "I am so shocked to hear the demise of actor-director Satish Kaushik ji, who was always vibrant, energetic and full of life, he will be missed immensely by the film fraternity & millions of admirers. My deepest condolences to his family members. Om Shanti," he posted alongside a picture of himself with the late actor.


Two days ago, Kaushik joined the B-town celebrities for a Holi party hosted by lyricist Javed Akhtar and his actress-wife Shabana Azmi at Janki Kutir in Juhu. At the party, he met actresses Tanvi Azmi and Mahima Chaudhary, and newlyweds Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha.


Born on April 13, 1956, Kaushik was a man of many talents - actor, director, producer, comedian, and screenwriter. He was an alumnus of the National School of Drama and Film and Television Institute of India and started his career in theatre.

Kaushik is best known for his roles in films like 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron', 'Mr India', 'Deewana Mastana', and 'Udta Punjab'.

Known for his comic timing, the actor-turned-director helmed popular projects like Salman Khan-starrer 'Tere Naam' and Kareena Kapoor Khan's 'Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai'.