Mohali, August 22, 2025: Veteran Punjabi actor and comedian Jaswinder Bhalla has died at the age of 65 after suffering a stroke, Indian media reported on Friday.
Bhalla, one of the most beloved figures in Punjabi-language entertainment, passed away at Fortis Hospital in Mohali, where he had been undergoing treatment following a brief illness. His cremation will take place on Saturday at the Balongi cremation ground.
Born in Doraha, Ludhiana district, Bhalla rose to fame in the late 1980s with the Chhankata series of satirical audio and video recordings that humorously captured rural Punjab’s social and political realities. Characters like Chacha Chatar Singh and Bhana became household names across Punjab and among the global Punjabi diaspora.
He went on to become a fixture in Punjabi cinema, appearing in hits such as Mahaul Theek Hai (1999), Jatt & Juliet (2012), Mr & Mrs 420 (2014), Sardaar Ji (2015), and Jind Jaan (2019). His portrayal of advocate Dhillon in the Carry On Jatta trilogy remains one of his most celebrated roles. His final screen appearance was in the 2024 release Shinda Shinda No Papa, alongside Gippy Grewal and Hina Khan.
Away from films, Bhalla was also an academic. He earned a PhD in extension education and served as professor and head of the department of extension education at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, until his retirement in 2020.
Tributes have poured in since news of his passing. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann described his death as “extremely sorrowful,” saying the silence of Chhankata had left hearts heavy. BJP leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal called him “the king of Punjabi comedy” and a “global icon of Punjabi culture.” Actor Gippy Grewal, his co-star in Shinda Shinda No Papa, wrote on Instagram that Bhalla was “like a father and mentor” to the industry.
Bhalla is survived by his wife Parmdeep, a fine arts teacher, his son Pukhraj, who is also an actor, and his daughter Jasmine, who lives in Norway.
