Comedian-actor Raju Srivastava cremated in Delhi in the presence of family and friends

Popular comedian and actor Raju Srivastava was cremated on Thursday in the capital, in the presence of family and close friends. After spending 41 days in the hospital, the 58-year-old comedian, who was among the most well-known figures in the comedy and film worlds, passed away on Wednesday morning at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). On August 10, while exercising in a Delhi hotel gym, he suffered a heart attack and was transported to AIIMS. Srivastava’s mortal remains were taken to his residence in the South West Delhi locality Dwarka after they were handed over to the family yesterday. An ambulance decked up with white flowers left for the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium at Kashmere Gate around 9 am for the funeral, which also had veteran poet-humorists Surendra Sharma and Ashok Chakradhar in attendance. Srivastava’s son Ayushmaan performed the last rites as per Hindu rituals around 11 am, the comedian’s younger brother Dipoo told PTI. “We left from the house in Dwarka at about 9 am for the funeral. Our family members from Kanpur and Lucknow are here,” he added. Industry colleagues Sunil Pal and Ahsaan Qureshi, director Madhur Bhandarkar and singer Ram Shankar along with hundreds of fans also reached the venue to pay last respects to the comedian. “It was heartwarming to see so many of his fans and colleagues come here to pay tribute to Raju bhai,” said Dipoo. The family has yet to decide the venue for the prayer meet, he further said. Srivastava, who joined the BJP in 2014 after a stint with the Samajwadi Party, was adept at finding humour in characters struggling with everyday difficulties. Born in 1963 in Kanpur to Ramesh Srivastava, a government employee and a humour poet, and homemaker mother Saraswati, Srivastava was first noticed for his resemblance to megastar Amitabh Bachchan and later became popular for his observational stand-up sketches in and around his hometown. The comic, whose career spanned almost four decades, played nameless bit parts in hit Hindi films such as “Maine Pyaar Kiya” and “Baazigar” before gaining nationwide fame as a participant in the 2005 reality comedy competition show “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge”. Read all the **_Latest News_** _, _ **_Trending News_** _, _ **_Cricket News_** _, _ **_Bollywood News_** _, _ **_India News_** and **_Entertainment News_** here. Follow us on Facebook_, _ Twitter and Instagram_._