Satish was as adorable off screen as he was on screen. His simplicity and amicable personality made him a true friend one could bank upon
Satish ji, as I used to call him, really shocked us a day before he shared his photographs taken at Shabana Azmi - Javed Akhtar’s home at a holi party. Suddenly, we are hit by news that the veteran actor, filmmaker, and producer has gone.
Don’t understand where to start. So many incidents and so many sweet memories. I started my career with this company many years ago. He always appreciated me and gave me unconditional love. Whenever, and wherever, I invited him to attend the newly formed film festivals, if he was not a filmmaker, he was always present there.
Whenever I followed up with an artist, he always appreciated it. A few years ago, at the Osian's-Cinefan Asian Film Festival in Delhi, he mentioned, "this Santanu used to follow up with such affection, constantly, and whatever date and time I gave him, he always called me then. It would be easier for others to say forget it, but he never does that. It is his politeness that attracts us to attend his events." In this case, we showed The Brick Lane directed by Sarah Gavron, based on Bangladeshi-origin writer Monica Ali. I have shown the film at innumerable film festivals with the honorable presence of Satish ji. Once travelling to Meerut to attend a film festival, he was very happily informed that he had been blessed with a baby girl. I have seen the tremendous joy on his face. Usually, I don’t dig into the personal lives of the artists I am dealing with. Neither did I read the gossip news, that’s why I didn't know of the news, and I told him that, but he never felt guilty about it. Whenever I am in Mumbai, I have to meet him either in his office or at home. And on one such tour at his home, I met his daughter Vanshika, when she was three years old.
Many times some small-time film festival organisers used to take senior artists like Satish Kaushik for granted. They promised him and Seema Biswas five-star hotel accommodation at a small film festival organised by a prominent publication group, but provided them with an ordinary hotel. And unfortunately, at the last minute, they cancelled my trip as well. In that day's meeting, Satish ji told me about the bad arrangement. He politely said, "If I had come to the theater, then I can compromise to any statement, but if I had come to a film-related event, then they should follow the protocol.". Because we did theatre with great difficulties but for the film there is a lot of money involved, so the film event organisers need to take care of the artist's comfort.”
When I requested some professional help from him, he called back to let me know there was an opportunity at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. And the Gandhinagar International Film Festival was born in 2011, and was inaugurated by Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat. Satish ji was present there with his long-time friend Anupam Kher, where we showed their co-production Hawai Dada as the Opening Film of the festival.
During the Dehradun International Film Festival, one-star actor was throwing tantrums, so I ran to Satish ji for advice on how to handle the situation. He gave me some helpful suggestions in a calm manner that helped me to deal with the situation better.
At the Chandigarh Music & Film Festival, where Satish ji was showing his co-production English film A Billion Colours Story. I was very hopeful about the film. However, when it did not bag the National Award for Best English film, I was a bit surprised. This is because that year there was no other English film competing in the competition in the same category. When I asked Satish ji about it, he very sadly said, “what to do? Shekhar Kapoor is a very trustworthy friend. I don’t think I need to approach him and lobby for my film, but being the Jury President, if he doesn't consider the film, what to say?” Only that is the one day I have seen a sad Satish Kaushik.
(Writer is a Delhi-based film festival curator, filmmaker, producer and freelance writer)
