Raju Srivastava passes away at 58 : Another Shattering loss in the realm of Comedy

Raju Srivastava passes away at 58

Satya Prakash Srivastava aka Raju Srivastava breathed his last today, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Aged 58, the Indian actor, comedian, and politician who has been known for his remarkable contribution in the world of comedy nationwide, is known to have been hospitalized after experiencing chest pain on August 10th after having collapsed in the gym. While people prayed for his recovery, Raju was under ventilation and had undergone angioplasty, after which he no longer survived and passed away today at AIIMS.

To collate all his work in the past, Raju started his career as one of the participants of the famous talent show : The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, where his character Gajodhar Bhaiya won him audience support and applause for his exceptional sense of comic timing. Later in a spin off, at the The Great Indian Laughter Challenge- Champions, he earned himself the title of ” The

King of Comedy”. He initially started out doing ancillary characters and supporting roles in films and provided comic relief to the extreme melodrama that followed the narrative. The films he’s starred in include, Maine Pyaar Kiya, Baazigar, Aamdhani Atthani Kharchha Rupaiya, Big Brother Mai Prem ki Deewani Hoon and Bombay to Goa. He lately starred in the Akshay Kumar film, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha which also promoted PM Modi’s “Swachh Bharath Sauchalay” campaign.

Also a participant of Big Boss(season 3), he was voted out on the fourth month of his stay and subsequently ended partaking in another show titled, “Comedy ka Maha Muqabla” and other talent shows including Comedy Circus, Laugh India Laugh and Raju Hazir ho. He later went onto collaborate with the contemporary ruler of comedy on television, Kapil Sharma, on Comedy Nights with Kapil and The Kapil Sharma Show which is aired on Sony TV.

Raju also had a political career with the Samajvadi party in 2014, but due to lack of support from the local voters, he decided to switch with the Bharatiya Janata Party and became one of the spearheaders of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, campaign.

Raju has made a name for himself in the field of comedy and has won the hearts of plenty throughout his career through his dynamic performances. Beginning from the lanes of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh and finally stepping into Bombay; from

stand-up comedy to slapstick and other forms, Raju has ventured into all and successfully triumphed them with ease. However, all his contributions will thus be etched among his admirers and would forever be eternal for us to laugh at, regardless of its time of inception.