Raju Srivastava, the lanky comic who made headlines in the late '80s with Tezaab and Baazigar, still has a cult following 15 years after his GILC run.
Before the show even aired, Raju dialed Shekhar Suman, a seasoned judge, and asked, "Should I step onto the stage or risk my reputation?"—a plea that sent the veteran into a protective mode.
When the final tally came, Sunil Pal took the trophy and Naveen Prabhakar secured second, yet Raju's observational wit left judges and audiences alike stunned. "He brought a fresh, street‑wise humor that felt real," recalled Shekhar, adding that Raju's style was a breath of fresh air amid the competition.
Shekhar later admitted that Raju's humor—though not polished—was the most authentic of the season, a sentiment that echoes in fan forums to this day. "He deserved the crown," he said, a quiet confession that still stirs debate among comedy lovers.
Beyond GILC, Raju kept busy with roles in Bollywood and TV—he was Dhurandhar Singh in Shaktimaan, a guest on Comedy Nights with Kapil, and even a housemate on Bigg Boss 3.
His sudden heart attack in 2022 cut short a life that had become a staple of Indian comedy—yet his punchlines still reverberate, proving that a good laugh never ages.