<p>Popular comedian and actor Raju Srivastava was on Thursday cremated in the presence of family and close friends in Delhi.</p>.<p>The 58-year-old comedian, one of the most well-known names in the comedy and film circles, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/comedian-raju-srivastava-passes-away-leaders-mourn-his-demise-1146919.html" target="_blank">passed away</a> on Wednesday morning at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after 41 days in hospital. He was admitted to AIIMS following a heart attack while working out at a Delhi hotel gym on August 10.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/raju-srivastava-comic-who-found-humour-in-everyday-life-1147000.html" target="_blank">Raju Srivastava: Comic who found humour in everyday life</a></strong></p>.<p>Srivastava's son Ayushmaan performed the last rites as per Hindu rituals around 11 am, the comedian's younger brother Dipoo told PTI.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"It was heartwarming to see so many of his fans and colleagues come here to pay tribute to Raju bhai," said Dipoo. </p>.<p>The family has yet to decide the venue for the prayer meet, he further said.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Srivastava is also survived by wife Shikha and daughter Antara.</p>
<p>Popular comedian and actor Raju Srivastava was on Thursday cremated in the presence of family and close friends in Delhi.</p>.<p>The 58-year-old comedian, one of the most well-known names in the comedy and film circles, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/comedian-raju-srivastava-passes-away-leaders-mourn-his-demise-1146919.html" target="_blank">passed away</a> on Wednesday morning at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after 41 days in hospital. He was admitted to AIIMS following a heart attack while working out at a Delhi hotel gym on August 10.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/raju-srivastava-comic-who-found-humour-in-everyday-life-1147000.html" target="_blank">Raju Srivastava: Comic who found humour in everyday life</a></strong></p>.<p>Srivastava's son Ayushmaan performed the last rites as per Hindu rituals around 11 am, the comedian's younger brother Dipoo told PTI.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"It was heartwarming to see so many of his fans and colleagues come here to pay tribute to Raju bhai," said Dipoo. </p>.<p>The family has yet to decide the venue for the prayer meet, he further said.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Srivastava is also survived by wife Shikha and daughter Antara.</p>