Days after the passing of her dear friend and longtime co-star Satish Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah shared a poignant memory of his final WhatsApp message—a witty note that now feels like his last playful farewell.

Ratna, writing for the Indian Express, revealed that on October 25 at 12:57 pm, she received a message from Satish saying, “I’m often mistaken for an adult because of my age.” Amused by his wit, she replied at 2.14 pm, “That’s just right for you!” But barely two hours later, at 3.49 pm, producer JD Majethia sent her the heartbreaking news: “Satishbhai is no more!”

She described the shock, saying, “At first, it felt like someone was pulling a fast one in terrible taste. As it sank in, it became even more unbelievable. Satish gone! A man determined to live life more fully, laugh at it, and take every blow on the chin and come out smiling, gone!”

Friends were left grappling with disbelief, exchanging frantic messages as they tried to process the loss. Many had received similar cheerful messages from Satish that very day, which made the reality even harder to accept.

Ratna and Satish shared an iconic on-screen and off-screen bond, immortalised in their roles as Maya and Indravadan Sarabhai in the cult sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. With Satish’s passing, the world has lost a master of comedy whose warmth and effortless charm left an indelible mark on generations of fans.