Above: detail from a painting by Bharpur Singh.
People
Comedian Jaspal Singh Bhatti (1955 - 2012)
OUTLOOK
Chandigarh, Punjab
JASPAL SINGH BHATTI
March 3, 1955 - October 25, 2012
Popular comedian and film director Jaspal Singh Bhatti, who touched a chord with the masses with his humorous take on problems plaguing the common man, died when his car rammed into a roadside tree in the wee hours on Thursday, October 25, 2012.
The satirist's son Jasraj Singh, who was driving the car and actress Surilie Gautam, the heroine of his film Power Cut which was scheuled to be released on Friday, October 26, 2012, were seriously injured in the mishap, police said.
The 57-year-old actor-director, who made his way into the hearts of his people with his satirical shows like Ulta Pulta and Flop Show,
was on a tour to promote the film when the accident took place near
Shahkot in Nakodar area of the district in Punjab, at 2:30 am.
They were rushed to a private hospital in Jalandhar where Jaspal Singh was declared brought dead.
"His body was brought to the hospital after 3 am and after medical examination he was declared dead," said Dr Harpreet Singh.
Jaspal Singh leaves behind his wife, a son and daughter Raabiya.
The deceased was going to Jalandhar from Bhatinda for the promotion
of his Punjabi film which is based on the frequent power cuts in
Punjab.
His son Jasraj and Gautam have been referred to a Ludhiana hospital now. According to doctors, they are in a stable but critical condition.
Born on March 3, 1955 at Amritsar, Jaspal graduated from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, Punjab, as an electrical engineer.
During
his college days, he was popular for his street plays which were spoofs
ridiculing corruption in society. Before venturing into television, he
was a cartoonist for the The Tribune newspaper in Chandigarh.
His satire on the Punjab police Mahaul Theek Hai
was his first directorial venture in the Punjabi language. He played the
role of Jolly Good Singh, a guard, in the movie 'Fanaa'. He also starred
in the comedy Punjabi film Jijaji.
Jaspal and his wife competed in a reality show Nach Baliye in 2008. The couple put their best foot forward to entertain the audiences with their dancing and comic skills.
The
cremation took place on Thursday evening after his body
was brought here after completion of various legal formalities, including
post-mortem.
October 26, 2012