Today, Thursday morning ( March 9, 2023), actor and Bollywood legend Anupam Kher broke the sad news on Twitter, announcing the last night death of his dear friend of 45 years Satish Kaushik(66), a legend in his own right.

It was revealed later by sources that the actor-director-writer and producer had travelled to Delhi from Mumbai to spend a Holi party with his friends, and was staying at a farmhouse in Delhi’s Bijwasan when he suddenly complained of breathing complications. He was later rushed with friends and family to Fortis Hospital in Gurugram, but unfortunately, he had already departed eternally by the time they reached their destination, at the hospital. He was last declared to have died because of a heart attack on his way to the hospital.

Celebrities, industry biggies and fans alike were deeply saddened and many took to social media to express their grief and share their condolences and support the now-late actor’s friends and family.

Kaushik’s last rites were performed at Versova crematorium in Mumbai. Many celebrities from the Hindi film industry paid their last respects to the veteran star.

Some of the people present include Javed Akhtar, Rakesh Bedi, Farhan Akhtar, Satish Shah, Johny Lever, Annu Kapoor and Anu Malik.  Anupam Kher who shared a close bond with Kaushik was seemingly overwhelmed. Speaking on his friend’s sudden demise, the actor said,  “To even talk about it (Satish Kaushik’s death) is a weird feeling. Last night, around 2 am, my house help answered a call. I was asleep, and he told me that Satish ji chale gaye hai (Satish ji is gone). I thought he has come home, so I asked him to make him sit as I come to see him. I was wondering why he’s come home at 2 in the night, but my house help said ‘Satish ji is gone’….” He further shared about the last time he met the now-late actor, as he visited Kher on his  birthday, “The day before yesterday, he had visited my house for dinner, on my birthday.” He went on to talk about his dear friend and how much he meant to the actor, ” Bada mushkil hai aisa dost milna, aisa insaan milna (It is difficult to find a friend and a human being like him). We are all shocked. I don’t know how many years it will take us to come to terms with the fact that he is not among us anymore.”

Kaushik was last seen in Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency; a historical piece set during the Indian Emergency period under Ex-PM Indira Gandhi’s tenure, in 1975-76,  he portrayed the late Defense Minister and former freedom fighter Jagjivan Ram.  The project was initially slated to release towards the end of 2023, in October, but was later postponed indefinitely.