Raju Srivastava was a popular name in the television and film industry. He gained popularity with his several comic characters that he played during his journey in the comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.
Comedian Raju Srivastava passed away on Wednesday due to a cardiac arrest, after battling for life for the past one-and-a-half months. The actor got his first cardiac arrest in August when he was working out at a gym in Delhi and he had to be admitted to AIIMS. He underwent an angioplasty and he was always on ventilator. During an interview with ETimes, Shikha shared she was praying for her husband to come out of the hospital.
The actor-comedian’s wife Shikha Srivastava, who has been inconsolable, said, “I am not able to talk right now. What can I share or say now? He fought very hard, I was really hoping and praying to see him come out of this. But, that has not happened. All I can say is that he was a true fighter.”
Raju Srivastava Wife Shikha Srivastava
Raju Srivastava’s nephew Kushal Srivastava and family friend Dr Aneel Murarka had been visiting him at AIIMS regularly for the past two months. Kushal said, “He passed away due to a second cardiac arrest. We were confident till yesterday that all will be well because he he had battling it for two months.”
Dr Aneel Morarka, who was with Rajuji throughout his illness at the hospital in Delhi said, “Raju bhai and I were friends since college days and more than 37 years I have known him. Both of us struggled and we never knew that we would reach till here. Raju bhai lived a life we are proud of and I pray that he will find peace and comfort where he is.”
Raju Srivastava started his career by appearing in small roles in several films, including Maine Pyar Kiya, Baazigar, Bombay to Goa and Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya. He became a household name after participating in the comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. He later also entered the third season of Bigg Boss. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Shekhar Suman, lyricist Manoj Muntashir and actor Nimrat Kaur, among others, paid tributes to Raju.
