Comedian-actor Raju Srivastava’s condition remains critical and is on life support at the intensive care unit of AIIMS, New Delhi, hospital sources said on Monday. Srivastava was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on August 10 after suffering a heart attack. The 58-year-old stand-up comic had an angioplasty on the same day. “His condition remains critical. (no improvement). He is still on life support system,” the source told PTI.
Last Friday, Srivastava’s family released a statement on their official Instagram page, saying that his condition is “stable” and requested people to “not pay attention to any rumours/fake news being circulated”. .
The message read, “Dear Raju Srivastava ji’s condition is stable. We pray for his speedy recovery. Doctors are treating him and doing their best. Thanks to all well wishers for their continued love and support. Please ignore anyone. Rumors/fake news are being spread. Please pray for that.”
It was also reported that the superstar Amitabh Bachchan Raju sent a video message to Srivastava wishing him a speedy recovery, in which he said, “Just Raju. Get up Raju, and keep teaching us all to laugh.” Though Raju is in an unconscious state at the moment, he was told a message from Big B on the advice of doctors, who claimed that hearing a loved one’s voice can help in a speedy recovery.
Reportedly, Srivastava was running on a treadmill when he suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to AIIMS. The comedian was taken to the catheterization lab for emergency angiography. He was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) twice that day.
A well-known face in the entertainment industry since the 1980s, Srivastava rose to fame in 2005 after participating in the first season of the reality stand-up comedy show “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge”. Srivastava has acted in Hindi films like “Maine Pyaar”. Kiya”, a remake of “Baazigar”, “Bombay to Goa” and “Aamdani Athani Kharcha Rupaiya”. He is also the President of Film Development Council Uttar Pradesh.