Popular comedian Raju Srivastava passed away in Delhi this morning. He was undergoing treatment in AIIMS for the last few weeks. His family confirmed his death earlier today. He was 58. He survived with his wife Shikha and two children, Antara and Ayushman.
Raju was admitted to AIIMS on August 10 when he experienced chest pain and collapsed in his gym while working out. He underwent treatment for 41 days but doctors couldn’t save him. He was on a ventilator for many weeks.
Raju was in the entertainment industry since the 1980s. He became popular through his stint on the reality stand-up comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2005. Though he didn’t win the show, Raju attained a huge fan base through his performances in it. He also acted in films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya and Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. He was last seen in the 2017 film Firangi.
Raju also participated in various television shows like Bigg Boss season 3, Comedy Circus, Nach Baliye, Comedy Nights with Kapil and The Kapil Sharma Show. On the political front, Raju Srivastava was a member of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2014. He was also the chairman of the Film Development Council, Uttar Pradesh.