Satish Kaushik, master of the spontaneous who radiated joie de vivre

From Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Mr India to Mandi, Kaushik leaves an indelible mark on Indian cinema

His qualities as an actor and successes as a director, exceptional as they were, could not eclipse Satish Kaushik’s greatest gift – his self-effacing geniality. A man and a professional of singular mettle, he radiated infectious joie de vivre on the screen and off it.

Kaushik, who passed away on the night of March 8 in Gurugram, made the journey from Delhi’s Karol Bagh to the Mumbai movie industry (via a couple of institutional pit stops that shaped him) without ever losing his solid moorings. He kept learning and evolving.  

Kaushik could have rested on his oars, having enjoyed consistent