New Delhi: Veteran actor Satish Kaushik, who was 66 years old, died this morning. The seasoned actor has a reputation for outstanding acting and directing in films. His death was announced by his friend and fellow actor, Anupam Kher. He once credited Boney Kapoor and Anil Kapoor for teaching him that relations are worth more than success or money in a 2014 interview.
Satish remarked on the failure of his Boney Kapoor-backed directorial efforts, including ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’ (1993) and ‘Prem’ (1995). Not only did he not express any regret, but he also claimed that Boney and Anil "didn't have any agenda against" him, despite the fact that they were blamed for the postponement of ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’ and ‘Prem's works.
In an interview with Filmfare in 2014, Satish said, “I learnt that relations are worth more than success or money. I didn’t direct for a long time. But I didn’t rebel because I knew Boney and Anil didn’t have any agenda against me per se."
Moreover, he said that Anil Kapoor was responsible for the revival of his filmmaking career. When asked how he was cast in Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1998), Satish reflected on the experience and stated, "Producer D Rama Naidu took on Anil and Kajol, who was the next big thing after Baazigar, for his Hindi remake of the South hit Pavithra Bandham. Anil coaxed him to take me on as the director even though Naidu saab wasn’t keen. Thankfully, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain clicked and I got a new lease on life.”
Born in Haryana, Kaushik was an alumnus of the NSD and the FTII, and started his film career in the early 1980s. He directed Sridevi's film, "Roop Ki Rani, Choron Ka Raja" and later "Prem", both disasters, but he got his big hit with "Hum Aapke Dil Me Rehte Hain" and also "Tere Sang", among many others.
Kaushik also gave sterling performances in films like "Ram Lakhan" and "Saajan Chale Sasural".