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Indian comedian Raju Srivastava, 58, dies weeks after cardiac arrest in gym

Indian comedian Raju Srivastava, 58, dies weeks after cardiac arrest in gym
Entertainment

Indian comedian Raju Srivastava died today in Delhi, over a month after he suffered a cardiac arrest while working out in the gym. He was 58.

Raju Srivastava was declared dead at 10.20 am, said news agency PTI citing hospital sources.

"I got a call from the family about half an hour ago saying he is no more. It is really unfortunate news. He was fighting in the hospital for over 40 days," his brother Dipoo Srivastava told the agency.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the comedian's death and said he was deeply saddened.

"I am deeply saddened by the death of renowned comedian Raju Srivastava. Apart from being an accomplished artist, he was also a very lively person. He was also very active in the social spheres. I extend my condolences to his bereaved family and fans. Shanti," he tweeted in Hindi.

Srivastava was hospitalised on August 10 after he collapsed in the gym and was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He underwent angioplasty the same day and was put on a ventilator.

Srivastava has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1980s but received recognition only in 2005 after he participated in the stand-up comedy show "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge".

He has appeared in Hindi films like "Maine Pyar Kiya", "Baazigar", "Bombay to Goa" and "Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya". He was one of the contestants on "Bigg Boss" season three.

Srivastava also served as the chairman of the Film Development Council of Uttar Pradesh until his death.