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Raju Srivastava Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth25 December 1963

Age58 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceKanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

ProfessionComedian, Actor, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseShikha Srivastava

FamilySon - Aayushmaan Srivastava; Daughter - Antara Srivastava; Father - Ramesh Chandra Srivastava; Mother - Saraswati Srivastava; Brother - Deepu Srivastava; Sister - Sudha Srivastava

Raju Srivastava Biography

Raju Srivastava was an Indian stand-up comedian, actor and politician best known for his Gajodhar Bhaiya character and for finishing as second runner-up on

Early life and background
Satya Prakash Srivastava, who became widely known by his stage name Raju Srivastava, was born on 25 December 1963 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Raised in Kidwai Nagar, Kanpur, he showed an early gift for mimicry and impressions, often copying voices he heard on the radio. Srivastava admired Amitabh Bachchan as a youngster and adopted aspects of the star’s style while developing his own comic voice.

He moved to Mumbai in 1982 to pursue a career in entertainment. In the city he supported himself with work such as driving while he worked to build a foothold in comedy. A modest early fee for a neighborhood performance inspired him to continue; he later released an audio cassette of jokes that helped him gain wider recognition.

Career
Srivastava’s professional credits include film, television and live stand-up. He made his film debut in Tezaab (1988) and appeared in supporting roles in titles such as Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa (2001), Big Brother (2007), Barood: (The Fire) – A Love Story (2010) and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017). On television he featured in Dekh Bhai Dekh (1994) and was part of long-running projects including many episodes of the series Shaktimaan.

His profile rose dramatically after competing on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2005, where his comic persona Gajodhar Bhaiya became widely popular and he was honoured as the show’s King of Comedy, finishing as second runner-up. He also took part in reality and talent shows such as Bigg Boss (2009), Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala (2011) and Nach Baliye (2013–2014). Srivastava was known for a combination of observational humor, mimicry and character work; one of his recurring stage figures was inspired by a childhood barber.

Beyond performance, Srivastava served in public roles related to film and culture. He held the position of chairman of the Film Development Council for Uttar Pradesh and proposed initiatives such as a film city in Varanasi, for which he was allotted a plot of land. In 2014 he was nominated by the Prime Minister to act as a brand ambassador for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Uttar Pradesh and took part in cleanliness efforts.

Awards and recognition
Over his career he received several awards and honours, including the Yash Bharati Award from the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2016, a Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award in 2017, and recognition as one of the top 100 personalities of India in 2020. He also received an award at the Gata Rahe Mera Dil–PHD Excellence Awards & Musical Evening in 2016.

Public profile
Raju Srivastava’s personal life was part of his public story. He married Shikha Srivastava in 1993 after a long courtship that began when they met in 1982. The couple had two children: a son, Aayushmaan Srivastava, who played the sitar, and a daughter, Antara Srivastava, who worked as a film director. His parents were Ramesh Chandra Srivastava, a poet and government employee, and Saraswati Srivastava. He came from a large family and counted comedian Deepu Srivastava among his siblings.

Srivastava’s career sometimes drew controversy. He received threatening calls related to material in his shows and filed complaints in response. He also pursued legal action in instances where his image or reputation had been used in ways he considered defamatory. Public debates around his comments on cultural and political topics attracted criticism at times.

Health, hospitalisation and death
In August 2022, while exercising on a treadmill at a gym in Delhi, Srivastava suffered a cardiac arrest. He was admitted to AIIMS New Delhi on 10 August 2022 and underwent angioplasty before being moved to an intensive care setting. During his hospitalization he received public support and visits or well wishes from senior political leaders and figures from the entertainment industry. After a prolonged period of treatment, he died at AIIMS on 21 September 2022 at the age of 58.

Latest updates
At the time of his death, Srivastava was remembered for a career that spanned live performance, television and film, his widely recognised comic characters, and his work promoting film development and public cleanliness initiatives in Uttar Pradesh. His passing prompted tributes from colleagues, politicians and fans across India.
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Recent Work

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

Supporting role in the 2017 film

2017
Proposal for a film city in Varanasi

Presented the proposal and was allotted a 106-acre plot to develop a film city

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Second runner-up on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (2005) and creator of the Gajodhar Bhaiya character
  2. Chairman of the Film Development Council, Uttar Pradesh
  3. Brand ambassador for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Uttar Pradesh (nominated 2014)
  4. Recipient of the Yash Bharati Award (2016) and Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award (2017)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Raju Srivastava born?

25 December 1963

What is Raju Srivastava known for?

Comedian, Actor, Politician

What is Raju Srivastava’s marital status?

Married

Who is Raju Srivastava married to?

Shikha Srivastava