He is one of India's favourite actors because of his comic timing on the screen. But Satish Shah recently proved that he is as good when it comes to delivering in reality and that too against what is presumably a serious act of racist mockery.
The 71-year-old actor recently travelled to the UK and at London's Heathrow Airport, he overheard allegedly racist remarks from a couple of staff members discussing how he could afford to fly with first-class tickets. But the man did not let it go and responded to it in his signature style which is fun-filled.
Taking to Twitter later to share his experience, Shah said, “I replied with a proud smile “because we are Indians” after I overheard the Heathrow staff wonderingly asking his mate”how can they afford 1st class?”(sic)”
It was only a matter of time before the tweet went viral and a deluge of remarks poured in as netizens loved the actor's reply and approved it.
Netizens react
One Twitter user responded to the award-winning actor who has excelled both in films and television saying, "You could have also told them, come and see our Delhi and Hyderabad airports and decide where Heathrow stands. I recently transited via Heathrow. It is like our old Mumbai airport."
Another said, “He was surprised probably because they looted us for 200years n took away 45 trillion dollar wealth from India. N still Indians can afford first class? It's very strange for them...(sic)”
A third user said, “Next time please add one more line that whatever they are affording today is also because of Indian money, their ancestors looted.”
Another one said, "Great Answer. He should also check with his Prime Minister".
The current prime minister of the UK is Rishi Sunak, the country's first British-Asian premier.
Yet another user said, "Superb reply! It's so good to see Indians giving back to them in their own language.
We are way past being a "third world country" by now! We are a superpower..."
About Satish Shah
The veteran actor did his first film in the early 1970s but he is most remembered for his roles in films such as 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' (1983) and television shows such as 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi' (1984) and 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai' (2004). He was last seen in the 2014 film 'Humshakals'.
Pedestrians walk past a poster featuring US President Donald Trump outside the American Center in New Delhi on May 21, 2026 marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP via Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO: US secretary of state Marco Rubio (R) meets with Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the State Department in Washington, DC, on February 3, 2026. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)
