Famous Punjabi actor and comedian Jaswinder Bhalla, fondly remembered as the ‘comedy king’ of Punjab, passed away on Friday at the age of 65. He was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali, where he breathed his last in the early hours.In an official statement, the hospital confirmed, “He was in a critical condition on admission. He was under the care of the Neurosurgery team and managed on ventilator and cardio supportive drugs for 2 days. In spite of best clinical care and all resuscitative efforts, due to the severity of the illness, he passed away today (August 22) at 04:35 am.”The veteran had been ailing for some time. His last rites will be performed on Saturday, August 23, at noon at the Balongi Cremation Ground in Mohali, the family said.Akshay Kumar pays tributeThe news of Jaswinder Bhalla’s demise left the entertainment industry in shock. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar took to Twitter to express his grief. Sharing a picture of Bhalla, he wrote in Punjabi, “Jaswinder Bhalla ji da be-waqat dehant Punjabi film industry nu wadda ghata, Rab ohna di aatma nu shanti bakhshey. Tusi bahut yaad aaogey Bhalla ji. (The untimely demise of Jaswinder Bhalla ji is a huge loss for the Punjabi film industry. May God bless his soul with peace. You will be deeply missed, Bhalla ji).” Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also reached out to the bereaved family on Friday to offer his condolences, acknowledging Bhalla’s immense contribution to Punjabi cinema and culture.A legacy of laughter and satireJaswinder Bhalla ruled the hearts of audiences for decades with his sharp social satire, cultural commentary, and memorable comic timing. He became a household name with characters like Chacha Chatra and his iconic catchphrases, which made even small roles unforgettable.
Born in 1960, Bhalla began his career as a professor but ventured into comedy through the popular stage series Chhankata 88. Its roaring success set him on a new path in Punjabi entertainment, and there was no looking back.Bhalla’s filmography boasts of some of the biggest Punjabi hits, including Carry On Jatta, Mahaul Theek Hai, Jatt Airways and Jatt & Juliet 2. His portrayal of advocate Dhillon in the Carry On Jatta franchise remains one of his most loved performances.He also appeared in fellow comedian Jaspal Bhatti’s Hindi comedy Mahaul Theek Hai. His last screen outing was ‘Shinda Shinda No Papa’ (2024), where he starred alongside Gippy Grewal and Hina Khan.
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