Satish Kaul dies of Covid: The Kashmiri Pandit who made Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat his personal

Veteran actor Satish Kaul, who had 300 Punjabi and Hindi movies to his credit score and have become a family title after taking part in the function of Lord Indra within the TV present Mahabharat, died of Covid-19 on Saturday in Ludhiana. He was 76.
District epidemiologist Dr Ramesh Kumar mentioned that Kaul was admitted at Sri Ram Charitable Hospital 3-4 days again. “He had fever and tested positive for Covid,” he mentioned.
It was in 2011 that Kaul, a Kashmiri Pandit, had shifted to Ludhiana to start out an performing faculty however the undertaking bumped into losses leaving him penniless. For the previous six years, Kaul had been placing up on the rented lodging of 1 Satya Devi in Ludhiana. Two years in the past, Kaul had come out in open about his monetary points and said that he didn’t have cash even to purchase groceries and medicines following which Punjab authorities had given him Rs 5 lakh help.
Speaking to The Sunday Express, Satya Devi’s son Lakhbir Singh, mentioned that Kaul had been feeling unwell since 3-4 days. “We shifted him to hospital where he tested positive for Covid.” Singh mentioned that in his final days, Kaul had wished to talk to Jackie Shroff. “But we were unable to contact the actor over phone. Shroff had been in touch with him since some years and would often help him. No other actor from film industry helped him in his last days,” Singh mentioned.
Kaul had final shot for 2 Punjab movies — Billu Blackia and Jaggu Nikattu — that haven’t been launched but.
It was veteran actor, director and lyricist Gufi Paintal, who performed the function of Shakuni Mama within the Mahabharat, who had picked Kaul for the function of Lord Indra within the epic present.

Speaking to The Sunday Express over cellphone from Mumbai, Paintal, who was additionally the casting director and manufacturing designer of the magnum opus, mentioned that he and Kaul turned superb associates very early of their careers. “I had worked with Kaul in my first film was ‘Dimple’, which was directed by Vijay Singhrao Patwardhan, father of actress Bhagyashree. I was playing the villain. In one of the sequences, I had to act that I was drowning in a lake. I did not know how to swim and actually started drowning. Kaul noticed it and was quick to save me,” recalled Paintal.
The veteran actor mentioned whereas casting actors for Mahabharat’s casting, they have been but to search out somebody for the function Lord Indra. “He came to my office for a meeting and I offered him the role, which he readily accepted. He was already a well-established actor by then and it was our pleasure to have him on-board. He was one of the senior actors on the sets but always very grounded,” mentioned Paintal.
The veteran actor mentioned that Kaul was an introvert and a gentleman. “What has saddened us is the way we lost him”.
Kaul is survived by sister Sushma Kaul (62) who lives in Mumbai and is a casting director for Hindi and South Indian movies. Sushma mentioned she had final spoken to her brother 3-4 days. “I convinced him to visit a doctor and get himself tested for Covid. I could not travel to meet him because of Covid. I am shattered beyond words. He was in great pain for 6-7 years but wasn’t agreeing to shift to Mumbai,” she mentioned.
Sushma mentioned their father had migrated from Kashmir to Delhi. “Our father Mohan Lal Aima was a television director. In our family, my brother and uncle Omkar Nath Aima (also a film actor) were artistes. My father and uncle promoted Kashmiri music and culture through their works,” mentioned Sushma.
Kaul had separated from his spouse who moved to the US with their son.

Paintal mentioned that Kaul had developed an inclination in direction of Punjabi movie business due to his fluency within the language. “He spoke Punjabi very well. We had many Punjabis working in Mumbai in those days and Kaul decided to try his luck in Punjabi films and he succeeded,” mentioned Paintal.
The Punjabi movie fraternity, whereas mourning Kaul’s demise, expressed that there was a robust and pressing want for an affiliation within the business to assist those that battle to satisfy their primary wants, after getting out of labor.
Punjabi director Harjit Singh mentioned, “Punjabi film industry is not an organized industry. There is no proper association to help our colleagues who suffer from financial problems. Veterans from the industry, such as Kaul, have suffered in old age. Something needs to be done urgently to address this issue.”
Jagmeet Singh Samundri, director of the movie ‘Saka-The Martyrs of Nankana Sahib’, mentioned, “Kaul was a a great artiste. We grew up seeing his films. It is saddening that he spent his last days in penury. He did not deserve it. He served this industry for years. There is an urgent need to have an association in Punjabi film industry to help such people”.
Kaul was recognized for his movies akin to Patola, Suhaag Chooda, Jatt Punjabi, Khel, Bandh Darwaaza, Sassi Punnu, Prem Prabhaat, Gunaaho Ka Faisla amongst others.
In a condolence message, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh described Kaul as a flexible actor, who performed a pivotal function within the promotion of Punjabi cinema, artwork and tradition. “Being a staunch votary of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat, Satish Kaul would be ever remembered by one and all for his enormous contribution for making Punjabi cinema popular amongst the people,” he mentioned in an announcement.
Former deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, in a tweet, mentioned , “Saddened to know about the demise of Satish Kaul, perhaps the first superstar of Punjabi film industry, who was afflicted with Covid-19. I offer deep condolences to the near ones of this award winning actor”.