Raju Srivastava

Some Lesser Known Facts About Raju Srivastav

• Raju Srivastava was an Indian comedian, actor, and politician, who became the second runner-up in the comedy show ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’ in 2005. He was also popular for his character Gajodhar Bhaiya, which he introduced in the same show. He served as the chairman of the Film Development Council, Uttar Pradesh. On 21 September 2022, he died of cardiac arrest at AIIMS, New Delhi. ^[7]Twitter – ANI

• Raju was very good at mimicry since childhood. He used to imitate his teachers in school for which he was scolded because his teachers said that it was an insult to them. Raju also used to mimic Indira Gandhi in front of his relatives by observing her voice on the radio because he did not have a TV at home.

• In an interview, Raju said that when he started doing comedy, many of his relatives were not happy with his profession, and they would often complain to his parents about his choice of work. In the interview, he further said,
  

  My relatives felt insulted by my comedy. They used to think that, children need to study and not recite jokes at the homes of other people. They used to complain to my parents and thought would bring dishonour to my family. Comedy as an art was not known. They opposed the same.”

• When he was a youngster, he became a big fan of Amitabh Bachchan. He used to keep the same hairstyle as him and put up his posters in his room. In an interview, Raju said that people used to call him to their homes to entertain them during family functions.

  

• He decided to pursue stand-up comedy as a profession after he received Rs. 50 for one of his performances at his neighbour’s home.

• When he came to Mumbai in 1982, he worked as a driver to earn money. Later, he released his first audio jokes cassette ‘Hasna Mana Hai,’ which gained a lot of popularity.

  

• Raju appeared in supporting roles in many Bollywood films including Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa (2001), Big Brother (2007), Barood : (The Fire) – A Love Story’ (2010), and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017).

  

• He participated in many comedy shows including The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (2005), Bigg Boss (2009), Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala (2011), and Nach Baliye (2013-2014).

  

• In an interview, he talked about his character Gajodhar Bhaiya and said that Gajodhar was his barber when Raju was a child.

  

• He was given the title of King of Comedy on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge show in 2005.

• He appeared in about 500 episodes of Shaktimaan (TV Series). His role as Anthony Gonsalves in Journey Bombay to Goa: Laughter Unlimited became famous.

• In an interview, Raju revealed his love story with his wife Shikha and said that he waited for twelve years to get married to her. He met her in 1982 at his brother’s wedding in Fatehpur and fell in love at first sight. Although he decided to marry her, he couldn’t gather up the courage to confess his love to her. Later, he went to Mumbai to become a comedian. He struggled there for a few years and in the meanwhile, he used to send letters to Shikha to know if she got married to someone else or not. After a few years of hard work, he bought his own house in Mumbai and developed financially stability. Thereafter, he sent a marriage proposal to Shikha’s house and impressed her brothers after which their marriage was confirmed.

• In 2014, after he was nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be a part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, he worked towards keeping the societies clean.

  

• In 2016, he appeared in a TV Commercial  for ‘PetSaffa.’

• In 2019, he presented the proposal of making a film city in Varanasi to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath. He told him that if there was a film city in Varanasi, the young artists would not have to go to Mumbai and the place would also become a tourist attraction. After his proposal, he was allotted a 106-acre plot in Varanasi to make the film city.

• In August 2022, while exercising on the treadmill at the Cult gym in Delhi, he suffered a heart attack and was immediately rushed to AIIMS, Delhi. Later, he underwent angioplasty after which he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit. According to media sources, on 12 August 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Raju’s wife to take his health updates. ^[8]Hindustan Times

• After he was admitted to the hospital, many famous personalities talked to his wife, Shikha, to assure her help in Raju’s treatment. Some of these famous personalities that helped Raju during this difficult phase include Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• On 18 August 2022, there were reports that Raju was brain dead, but his manager clarified the rumours and said,
  

  There is nothing like this. He is unconscious. There was swelling in his brain nerves. With some medicines, he was unable to respond. Then some injections were given which caused swelling in some of his brain nerves. Doctors are treating it.”

  However, on 21 September 2022, he died while undergoing treatment at AIIMS in New Delhi.