Jaspal Bhatti cremated, politicians, celebrities, common people mourn

Chandigarh: The mortal remains of famous comedian, actor and satirist Jaspal Bhatti were consigned to flames at a cremation ground here Thursday evening. Bhatti died in a road accident near Punjab's Nakodar town, 170 km from here, in the morning. Bhatti's pyre was lit by his son Jasraj, who was himself injured in the accident but was discharged from hospital in the afternoon.

Hundreds of mourners from diverse fields attended the cremation. These included politicians, leading celebrities of the Punjabi film and theatre industry and scores of friends of Bhatti. Earlier, a large number of mourners reached his Sector 19 residence.

"The king of comedy has left everyone in tears. He did not deserve this," one of his close associates said at the cremation ground.

Jaspal Bhatti, who passed away after a road accident on October 25, 2012, was the original king of satire.
An electrical engineer by profession, Jaspal Bhatti was perhaps the most famous Sikh comedian.
It was during his days at Chandigarh's prestigious Punjab Engineering College that he launched his Nonsense Club in the early 1980s to poke fun at social evils and issues.
Though he joined the Punjab government as an engineer, Bhatti's heart and soul lay in comedy and satire.
Starting as a cartoonist with English daily The Tribune in the late 1980s, Bhatti later came up with the popular 'Ulta-Pulta' on national channel Doordarshan.
Within no time, Bhatti's satire on social issues became a national hit. He followed it up with another hit TV show, 'Flop Show'.
Jaspal Bhatti was married to Savita Bhatti, who acted with him in TV shows and Punjabi films.
Though he was Chandigarh based, he was a frequent traveller to Mumbai and Delhi for films, TV appearances and shows.
Jaspal Bhatti was known for his hit TV series 'Flop Show' all his life.
Jaspal Bhatti had set up his MAD Arts and film school at Mohali, near Chandigarh, three years ago.
Jaspal Bhatti acted in many Bollywood and Punjabi films as well.
He produced and directed the popular Punjabi film 'Mahaul Theek Hai', a satire on the Punjab police, administration and society, in 1999.
He acted in Bollywood films like 'Jaanam Samjha Karo', 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen', 'Fanaa', 'Mausam' and others.
Jaspal Bhatti with Shammi Kapoor in a still from the movie 'Jaanam Samjha Karo'.
He was also seen with Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna in 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen'.
Jaspal Bhatti rides a horse in a comic protest against an increase in petroleum prices in Chandigarh on September 30, 2000. Bhatti advocated the use of horses for office commuters as a safe bet against a rise in the price of petrol.
Reuters
Jaspal Bhatti (R), adjusts a necklace of vegetables on his wife in Chandigarh on June 26, 2006. Bhatti made the jewellery out of vegetables to highlight the skyrocketing prices of vegetables.
Reuters
Today Bhatti was to end his over 40-day promotional tour of his latest film 'Power Cut' in Punjab's cultural capital Jalandhar. The film, which sees the launch of his son Jasraj, will be released on Friday.
His spoofs, satire and comedy kept us entertained for years. Jaspal Bhatti, you will be missed always.

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Jaspal Bhatti is survived by wife Savita Bhatti, herself an actor, son Jasraj and daughter Raabiya.

Bhatti's Honda Accord car had rammed into a tree along the highway while he was on his way to Jalandhar for the promotion of his latest film 'Power Cut'. Police said that the accident happened around 3 a.m. while Bhatti was on his way to Jalandhar from Bathinda.

Bhatti, 57, was taken to a hospital in Jalandhar after the accident where doctors declared him dead. He sustained head injuries in the accident.

Jasraj and the film's heroine Surilie Gautam and publicist Navneet Joshi were also injured. They were give treatment in a hospital in Jalandhar, 150 km from state capital Chandigarh.

Bhatti's latest film 'Power Cut', which he had produced and directed, was to be released Friday. The film was to launch his son Jasraj.

Sources close to Bhatti said that he was on a 40-day tour for the promotion of his film. The tour was to end Thursday with a media conference in Jalandhar.

Bhatti was a popular face on television and in Bollywood films with his comedy shows and appearances. His TV shows 'Ulta-Pulta' and 'Flop Show' had entertained TV audiences in the late 1980s and 1990s.

He also directed a film 'Mahaul Theek Hai', a satire on the police, administration and society, in 1999.

Bhatti, perhaps the most famous Sikh comedian, acted in several Bollywood films.

Jaspal Bhatti is survived by wife Savita Bhatti, herself an actor, son Jasraj and daughter Raabiya.