CHANDIGARH: Renowned Punjabi actor and comedian Jaswinder Singh Bhalla passed away on Friday morning following a brain stroke.
Bhalla was,admitted to the Fortis hospital in Mohali a few days ago after he fell ill.
Known for his impeccable comic timing, biting satire, and relatable characters, Bhalla was one of the most beloved figures in Punjabi entertainment.
Born on May 4,1960 in Ludhiana, Balla began his career as a professor and head of department at the Department of Extension Education at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) before retiring in 2020. Bhalla did his B.Sc (Honors) in Agriculture and M.Sc in Extension Education from PAU and completed his Ph.D from CCS University, Meerut. Before joining PAU in 1989, he served in the Punjab Agriculture Department for five years.
He did stage shows in the late 1980s and 1990s before moving to movies. Bhalla was known for playing Advocate Dhillon in Punjabi film 'Carry On Jatta' released in 2012 and its sequel which came in 2018. He also starred in 'Yaar Anmulle', 'Jatt & Juliet series', 'Mr & Mrs 420', 'Mundeyan Ton Bachke Rahin', 'Daddy Cool Munde Fool' and 'Chak De Phatte'. Despite gaining a lot of popularity in the Punjabi film industry, he did not transition to Hindi films.
He was also known for playing Chacha Chatra in the 'Chhankata series' which gained a lot of popularity in Punjab via home video cassettes. Apart from the 'Chhankata series', Bhalla gained fame for his role in Jaspal Bhatti’s film 'Mahaul Theek Hai'. He was also seen in 'Jija Ji', also directed by Bhatti.
His final rites will be held on Saturday at the Balongi Cremation Ground in Mohali, where family, friends and fans would gather to pay their last tributes.
He is survived by his wife Parmdeep Bhalla, and actor son Pukhraj Bhalla and daughter Ashpreet Kaur.