Mumbai : Satish Kaushik, one of the most respected names in Hindi films, was an actor, director, producer, comedian, and screenwriter. He is best remembered for his films like "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro," "Mr. India," "Ram Lakhan," "Saajan Chale Sasural" and many more Satish Kaushik was born on April 13, 1956, in Mahendragarh, Haryana. After graduating from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, in 1972, he honed his acting skills at the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) and later, the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. 

 

Kaushik made his acting debut with a small role as a boot polish guy, in the 1981 film "Chakra" directed by Rabindra Dharmaraj and starring Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah. In 1983 the cult classic "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" a satirical black comedy directed by "Kundan Shah" starring "Naseeruddin Shah," "Ravi Baswani," "Om Puri," "Pankaj Kapur," "Satish Shah," "Satish Kaushik," "Bhakti Barve" and "Neena Gupta." Satish Kaushik is also credited as a writer in the movie.

 

His other early work includes films like "Woh 7 Din(1983)," "Mandi,(1983)" "Utsav(1984)" and "Saagar(1985)." He also appeared in Shekhar Kapur's "Masoom (1983)" where he was also an assistant director. In 1987 his most famous role "Calendar" in the iconic film "Mr. India" directed by Shekhar Kapur, which won him widespread acclaim followed by films like "Kaash," "Uttar Dakshin," "Jalwa," "Prem Pratigyaa," and many more. In 1989 he was cast as Kanshiram in "Ram Lkahan" for which he won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award.

 

His other notable films in this period were "Awaargi," "Swarg," "Jamai Raja," and "Andaz".  In 1996 he won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award for his portrayal of "Muthu Swami" in Sajan Chale Sasural." Few of his most famous characters are "Pappu Pager" in Deewana Mastana, "Harpal "Happy" Singh" in Pardesi Babu, "Sharafat Ali" in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, "Mr. Pareshan "in Aunti No. 1, "Kunjbihari Lal" in Haseena Maan Jayegi, "German" in Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, "Prakash Choudhury" in Hadh kardi Aapne, "Pappu Pager" in Hum Kisise Kum Nahin  and many more.

 

As a director, Kaushik's first film was "Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja" (1993), followed by Prem (1995) and despite their commercial failure, he persevered, eventually finding success with "Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain" (1999).