Mumbai: Anupam Kher and the late Satish Kaushik shared a friendship that went far beyond the silver screen. The duo were frequent co-stars in Bollywood hits and maintained a personal bond that spanned decades. Now, two years after Kaushik’s passing, Kher has found a heartfelt way to honor his friend’s memory.
The actor, who recently received the prestigious Raj Kapoor Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Maharashtra Government, announced that he will use the award’s cash prize of ₹10 lakh to establish the Satish Kaushik Scholarship at his acting school, Actor Prepares. The scholarship aims to support a deserving student from an underprivileged background to pursue a three-month diploma course in acting.
In an Instagram video, Kher said, “I have decided that the 10 lakh rupees I am receiving will be used to establish a scholarship in the name of Satish Kaushik. It will be called the Satish Kaushik Scholarship for a Deserving Candidate and will be awarded to a student currently enrolled in our 3-month diploma course. The candidate must come from a poor family and be unable to afford the course, but they must be talented. I will give this scholarship to them. That’s all I wanted to share with you.”
The video also shows Kher standing beside a smiling statue of Kaushik, which he plans to install at his school. Reflecting on his decision, he added, “What scholarship could be better than this, inspired by such a talented actor, director, producer, and my best friend?”
Satish Kaushik passed away on March 9, 2023, at the age of 66 due to a heart attack.
Kher and Kaushik shared the screen in several memorable films, including Ram Lakhan, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, Gangs of Ghosts, and Kaagaz 2. Their on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie remain one of Bollywood’s most cherished friendships—now immortalized through this scholarship.
