Four decades have passed since Sumeet Raghvan first stepped onto a Marathi stage as a child artiste. Since then he has been Faster Fene for a generation of Doordarshan viewers, the affable Sahil Sarabhai, the everyman in Wagle Ki Duniya, a film actor, singer and one of television’s most recognizable faces. At 55, though, he seems happiest back where it all began. His new Marathi play, Hi Dosti Tutayachi Naay, has crossed the 50-show mark and become one of the season’s biggest successes.

Sharing the stage with wife Chinmayee Sumeet after a gap of 12 years, he plays Shashank Saravade, one half of a long-married couple sent to a counsellor in a final attempt to save their relationship. “We had both done plays individually over the years,” he says. “Then this script by Omkar Gokhale came our way. It was multidimensional and had everything that could appeal to an actor.”

The play moves through romance, conflict, humour and heartbreak before taking an unexpected turn. Midway through, Raghvan breaks the fourth wall, bursts into the title song and has the audience singing with him. “I’ve sung live on shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa,” he says. “I thought, why not? I love interacting with the audience and the song is a wonderful way to make that connection.”

Music has always been central to his life. “My first love is music. I always carry a harmonium with me.”

Off stage, the production has become a family affair. Raghvan and Chinmayee have produced the play under their banner, Natyaleela Theatres, while their son, Neerad Sumeet, has composed the music.

“It makes me incredibly proud to sing Neerad’s compositions,” says Raghvan. “Chinmayee and I had tried producing Lekure Udand Jhali many years ago, but it wasn’t a good experience because there was no proper accounting for the money. This time everything is organized and transparent. We’ve collaborated with veteran producer Dilip Jadhav and Ashtavinayak Theatres, whose experience has made all the difference.”

For many, Raghvan will always remain Sahil Sarabhai, the perpetually exasperated elder son in one of TV’s best-loved sitcoms. “So yes,” he laughs, “it’s a cross to bear, but it’s a lovely cross to bear. People still call me Sahil. It’s humbling. Many come to watch the play because they remember Sahil, or my characters from Wagle Ki Duniya or Badi Door Se Aaye Hai.”

That affection has followed him into the theatre. Friends from across the industry have attended performances as the act touches upon elements of friendship that resonate with the relationships they share. His Sarabhai family has already been in the audience and, at the 50th show, MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his wife, Sharmila, even danced during the play when Raghvan broke the fourth wall and invited the audience to join in the act.

“Sharmila’s father, Mohan Wagh, produced the first play Chinmayee and I acted in together. The friendship goes back many years. Having Raj dada join the celebrations made it even more special.” Raghvan hopes to have Madhuri Dixit in the audience for the 100th show in October.

The play also allows Raghvan’s character, a political analyst, to comment on the state of public discourse. “We had statesmen when I was growing up. They carried themselves with decorum and dignity. Today, the language used in public life has become so unparliamentary.”

He believes theatre should bridge generations as much as entertain them. “People my age enjoy the nostalgia of Marathi-medium schools, but there is plenty here for a 15-year-old too.”

Among the play’s standout moments is a lengthy drunken monologue that includes an oddly passionate lesson on the correct way to wipe a kitchen platform. “That whole ota kasaa pusayacha moment comes from my mother,” he says.

“Playing drunk is difficult. My benchmarks were Dr Shriram Lagoo and Vikram Gokhale.” For Raghvan, theatre remains the medium that asks the most of an actor. “It keeps you on your toes.”

Looking back on a career spanning 40 years, he credits his parents above anyone else. “They’re ordinary people with nothing to do with this profession. They gave me a calm, sane home to return to. Whenever I see them, my feet naturally stay on the ground.”

Next comes the OTT series Chumbak with Aatish Kapadia and J D Majethia, along with another project that could see him learn a new language. That’s not the only change he’s ready for. “I’d love to play a negative role,” he says with a grin. “Maybe... a murderer.”

Veteran actor Satish Shah, beloved for his roles in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983), Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984), Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Main Hoon Na (2004), passed away at his Mumbai residence on Saturday. He was 74. An FTII graduate, Shah began with small yet striking roles in Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan (1978), Gaman (1979) and Umrao Jaan (1981), before becoming a cult favourite as the corrupt D’Mello in Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro . From Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) to Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Shah’s warmth and comic timing defined an era of Hindi cinema. Tributes have been pouring in from actors and contemporaries who worked with him, celebrating a performer who made laughter timeless.

Anupam Kher paid tribute to the late actor with an emotional video on Instagram. “What is happening? In the past 3-4 days so many good people have left, that too the ones that have worked with me. Behind this empty smile of mine is a lot of sadness. Satish Shah... I used to say Satish mere Shah (Satish, my king),” he said in the video.

“He was a great friend of mine, it is just shocking. I am revisiting Switzerland where we shot Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and I saw the news that Satish Shah is no more. He was in Dilwale and Hum Aapke Hain Koun and in so many more. He used to laugh and make us laugh,” he added.

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The heavens will be a merrier and a happier place now. Satish ji will make the Gods laugh out loud as they admire their own creation. Thank you for being such a solid wind beneath my wings early on in my career… for constantly believing in me and egging me on – R Madhavan, Shah’s co-star, in 1997 TV show Jamai Raja

We’ve lost a great artiste & my dearest friend of over 40 years. It’s hard to believe – I had spoken to him just two days ago. Satish Bhai, you will truly be missed. Your immense contribution to film and television will never be forgotten – Johny Lever

“Loving, full of life and playful just like his popular onscreen character of Indravadan Sarabhai” – that’s how the team of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai remembers Satish Shah, who played the witty patriarch of the South Mumbai family in the show that premiered in 2004.

Sumeet Raghvan said, “It is such a rude shock. He was in and out of hospital, he had kidney issues. He was a fabulous human being and an actor. We all have seen his great body of work. I’ve known him for the last 20 years, he was the real-life Indravadan Sarabhai, a prankster. I would be his partner in crime. Whenever we would chat, he would tell me, ‘Don’t let the child in you die or grow, keep the child alive’. He made sure the child in him was always alive.”

Rajesh Kumar, who portrayed the fan-favourite Rosesh, Indravadan’s younger son, said, “This is the worst hour for me. I still cannot process that Satish ji is no more. All I can say is that I feel I have lost my father. He was a man full of life and humour. He made his name and left a mark as an actor. This is a big, big loss to the industry and us, Sarabhai family.” ​

Shah’s co-star from Nehle Pe Dehla, Rajesh Puri, who shared a long friendship with Shah and also worked with him in multiple projects, said, “We worked together even before I did Hum Log , collaborating on several TV shows and films. I wonder what happened to him. Earlier, we used to meet a lot when we worked together. It is very unbearable at the moment.”

The veteran actor fondly recalled working with Shah on the show Nehle Pe Dehla (1999–2000), remembering how the late actor would often tease him, and make everyone laugh. “I will really miss him. It was just last week that I was thinking about catching up with him,” he added.

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The last rites of late actor Satish Shah were conducted in Mumbai on Sunday, a day after he died of renal failure at 74. Earlier, his mortal remains were kept at his residence in Bandra for antim darshan.

Several industry A-listers, friends, and colleagues got together to bid a final farewell to Shah, including Kunal Kohli, Jackie Shroff, Johnny Lever, Aanjjan Srivastav, Poonam Dhillon, Ali Asgar, Tiku Talsania, and Suresh Oberoi.

The cast and crew of his iconic sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai were also present, including Ratna Pathak Shah, Rajesh Kumar, Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghvan, Deven Bhojani, and JD Majethia were also present. Clips of them singing the show’s theme song at the cremation also surfaced on social media.

Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a still of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, writing, “Rest in glory Satish Shah.”

R Madhavan shared an old photo featuring himself, Satish and Mandira Bedi from their get-together. The three had worked together in the sitcom Ghar Jamai.

Amitabh Bachchan wrote, “Another day another work another quiet... Another one of us passes away... Satish Shah, a young talent, and has left us at a very young age. And these times of the grim... it bodes not well to express in normalcy... but the show must go on... and so it does, as does life.” They starred together in the 2008 film Bhootnath.

Anupam Kher shared an emotional video for Satish after the actor’s “shocking” death. Writing in the caption “Satish mere Shah”, he said in the video, “Kya ho raha hai yeh? Teen-chaar din mein itne acche acche log chale gaye. Kya ho raha hai yeh?”

Sumeet Raghvan wrote, “As the show continues to grow, so does our bond. Whenever we met, we didn’t talk as Sumeet, Rupali or Rajesh. Then, were Sahil, Monisha, Rosesh, Dad, and Mom. That’s how we talk with each other. Today, the head of the Sarabhai family, our most senior member, has left us. Kaafi dinon se woh joojh rahe thhe. Finally, life can be very cruel.”

Farah Khan wrote on Instagram, “Rest in peace dearest, Satish. You were a joy to know and work with. Will miss you sending me memes and jokes every day.”

Johnny Lever said, “Feeling extremely sad to share that we’ve lost a great artist and my dearest friend of over 40 years. It’s hard to believe — I had spoken to him just two days ago.”

Rajesh Kumar reflects, “All I can say is that it feels like I have lost my father.. A man full of life and humour. Challenging everything. His name left his mark as an actor. This is a big, big loss to the industry and the (Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai’s family). Let’s pray for his departed soul and keep him in your prayers.”

Rakesh Bedi remembers Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi co-star: “I’ve known him since 1974, when we joined FTII. We’ve been classmates, flatmates, and have been friends for all these years. I never saw him sulking. He would always talk about things with so much passion and joy, especially his work. Even when he was unwell, the doctor would come, and he’d crack jokes with him. This was the beauty of that man.”

“Whenever I finish a TV show, I take a sabbatical so that I can pursue other things like Marathi theatre and films. But when you are doing a daily soap, it gets very difficult to manage things. I try my level best to strike a balance between all these three mediums,” says actor Sumeet Raghvan, who is all set to return to doing a TV show after a gap of four years.

After being cooped up at home for close to 4-5 months, when I stepped out in July for my first assignment — an ad shoot, I was very nervous and skeptical. But slowly as I started doing more ads, I became more confident and it helped me to settle down in the new normal. Honestly, you can’t just sit at home, one day you will have to step out and get back to work taking all precautions.

Apart from acting, music has always been an integral part of my life and our house. So, the lockdown was a good time to get back to it. I learnt playing the guitar and practised on my harmonium often. But the most exciting part of all is learning a new language from scratch. My dad’s a Tamilian and my mom’s a Kannadiga, who can speak fluent Tamil and so can my brother. However, it was just me who couldn’t. I have been wanting to learn Tamil for a very long time, but somehow it never happened. I think unless that self-realisation doesn’t push you, you won’t be inspired to do anything. The lockdown gave me the much-needed push to learn Tamil.

Honestly, I don’t look back. I’m happy with the work I’m getting now. Twenty years back, I was in that phase where I wanted to do certain kind of work but as I’m nearing 50 (next year), I’m getting interesting and challenging roles which are keeping me on my toes and pushing me out of my comfort zone. Over the years, the audience has remembered me by the roles that I’ve portrayed on screen and that’s the best thing an actor can ever hope for. I can’t ask for more.

For over half a century, R K Laxman’s daily cartoon strip in The Times Of India, You Said It, and his bespectacled, balding, dhoti-clad, middle-aged ‘Common Man’ who epitomized the dreams, aspirations, foibles and troubles of the average Indian, was an integral part of our lives. And in 1988, the iconic character was interpreted in a sitcom, Wagle Ki Duniya, with Aanjjan Srivastav portraying the common man and Bharati Achrekar as his wife.

Thirty-two years later, the show is set for a revival on Sony SAB with Sumeet Raghvan stepping up as the new Wagle. “When Aatish (Kapadia, writer-producer) and J D (Majethia, producer) approached me, I was happy to give my nod to a show I had grown up watching,” says the actor.

Calling it TV’s “best era”, Sumeet rued that his children, who are in their twenties, have never heard of Wagle. “I’m giving them a piece of my childhood,” he says, revealing that he will be playing Aanjjan and Bharati’s son, and the veteran actors will be returning too. “Their presence will filter out any criticism. Having them is like getting a 200-run lead in a cricket match,” he laughs. Sumeet agrees that the challenge will be to make the show relevant in today’s times since the issues faced by the common man have changed and luxuries like a maid, a car, or going to the movies have become necessities now.

“We will continue to keep it simple so people can relate to it. It will be a tightrope as I have big shoes to fill,” he admits.

The year 2021 is Laxman’s birth centenary and Sumeet believes there could be no better celebration than bringing back the legendary ‘Comman Man’. “Aatish is a brilliant writer who has conceptualized amazing characters in Khichdi, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, and Baa Bahoo Aur Baby. Having him in our team is our biggest advantage. We also have some Marathi writers who are well versed with local households and help us make the show more authentic. For instance, I pronounce Wagle with a Marathi enunciation,” he avers.

It has been a while since Sumeet was last seen on TV. Point this out and he says he likes taking a break of a couple of years between shows when he is busy with theatre. “I don’t want to be seen every day. I like to be exclusive. I like to be missed,” he chuckles, informing that they start shooting from December-end. The show starts airing in the new year, towards the end of January. “This will be a New Year gift to myself and everybody else.”