Raju Srivastav (born Satya Prakash Srivastav, 25 December 1963 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – died 21 September 2022 in Delhi) was an Indian stand-up comedian, actor, and politician. His father Ramesh Chandra Srivastava was a poet known as 'Balai Kaka'. Fascinated by mimicry since childhood, Raju moved to Mumbai in the 1980s with a dream of becoming a comedian, supporting himself with small Bollywood roles — including a part in Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Baazigar (1993), and later Bombay to Goa (2007) and Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya (2001). He married Shikha Srivastav in 1993; they have a son (Ayushman) and a daughter (Antara). For two decades he worked hard without mainstream recognition before The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (Star One, 2005) brought him to national prominence — where he finished as the second runner-up and launched a high-profile career in stand-up comedy. His stage character 'Gajodhar Bhaiya' became iconic. He performed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, one of few Indian comedians to do so, and was appointed Chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the Film Censor Board by the Government of India. He also participated in Bigg Boss 3 (2009) and later appeared in Nach Baliye and various television shows. He suffered a cardiac arrest while exercising at a gym on 10 August 2022 and passed away on 21 September 2022 at AIIMS Delhi at the age of 58. In October 2009, he entered Bigg Boss Season 3, lasting 60 days before being evicted in Week 9, finishing 7th overall.

Second runner-up on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 1 (2005, Star One) — launching his national stand-up comedy career; Bollywood films Baazigar (1993), Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Bombay to Goa (2007), and Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya (2001); popular stage persona 'Gajodhar Bhaiya'; appointed Chairman of FTII and Film Censor Board by the Government of India; died 21 September 2022 of cardiac arrest.

Frequently Asked