Comedian Raju Srivastava passed away today, September 21. He was 58 years old. The comedian will be always known for his masterful impersonation and as Gajodhar Bhaiya. He had had a heart attack and was being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). His family verified the news of his death. On August 10, the stand-up comedian was admitted to AIIMS after he experienced chest pain and collapsed while working out at the gym. The comedian reportedly passed away this morning at 10:15 a.m.
In the 1980s, the comedian travelled to Mumbai from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, carrying a number of fantasies. He had a difficult time adjusting to life in the Maximum City. He started driving a taxi to make ends meet when his money from home started to run low. Before landing a programme on Doordarshan, Raju first had tiny roles in movies like Tezaab (1988), Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), and Baazigar (1993) to make ends meet in the city. Raju Srivastava has been employed in the entertainment industry since the late 1980s. After taking part in the inaugural season of the stand-up comedy show “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge” in 2005, Raju Srivastava gained popularity. He also participated in several comedy shows including Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala, Comedy Circus, and Comedy Nights with Kapil. He had also appeared in a number of movies, including “Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon,” “Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya,” and “Maine Pyar Kiya.”
He received appreciation from many stars and political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Raju disclosed in 2017 that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciates his impersonation. He advised me to imitate myself if I wanted to, but to make sure the audience was amused. He regards imitation as a form of art. Modi Ji actually stated that there should be no prejudice, that powerful people should not be made fun of, and that only the other social groups should be the target of one’s humour.
