Satish Kaushik worked at textile mill for Rs 400, moved to a PG opposite Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow after argument with relatives

Actor Satish Kaushik passed away on March 9 in 2023, leaving his fans and friends in the film fraternity in shock. April 13 marks Satish’s 68th birth anniversary, and industry figures, including his close friend Anupam Kher, have penned emotional tributes for the late actor. Satish arrived in Bombay in August 1979, and, as he recounted, by a stroke of luck, he was offered a role in a play staged at Prithvi Theatre. From sleeping at the theater to earning Rs 400 from a part-time job, Satish paved his way in the film industry.

After completing his college studies, Satish came to Bombay and struggled initially with finances and jobs. “I came to Bombay with Rs 800 which my brother-in-law gave me,” he said in an interview with Quint. However, he landed a role in a play after the lead actor had to leave due to some emergency.  Satish had said, “I rehearsed my lines walking on the beach as I did not have a place of my own. Then, I worked as a cashier for a year in a textile mill, on a salary of Rs. 400 a month. But all my evenings were spent at Prithvi.”

Satish said that he struggled a lot in Bombay. “My boss was very kind to me, so in the evenings, I would perform in plays outside Prithvi Theatre and collect money. Om Puri, Karan Razdan, Raja Bundela and I would survive on that money. We would sleep at Prithvi,” he said in an interview with Rediff.com.

Story continues below this ad

ALSO READ | Amar Singh Chamkila’s last day: Singer foreshadowed his own death, saw his wife being shot and asked, ‘Babbi, tenu ki hoya’

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher)

The late actor was a fan of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and he also shared screen space with him in the film Jalwa. He said, “When I first came to the city, I stayed with my relatives in Byculla. When they came to know that I had come to act, they stopped talking to me. I left that place and got a paying guest accommodation opposite Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow.”

Satish passed away last year, a day after celebrating the festival of Holi in Gurugram. He is survived by his wife and daughter. His last film was Kaagaz 2 with Anupam Kher.