When Amitabh Bachchan Sent Voice Note To Raju Srivastava, A Moment From 'Anand'

Raju Srivastava was on his deathbed when family asked Amitabh Bachchan to send a note that might wake him up, in a moment that reminds of 1971 movie

Actor Amitabh Bachchan did something straight out of a movie for Raju Srivastava when the comedian was in hospital days before his death. 'Big B' sent a voice note for Srivastava, urging him to open his eyes and resume life, just as his character, a doctor, does for a terminally ill man, played by Rajesh Khanna, in ‘Anand' (1971).

Raju Srivastava was a lifelong fan and perhaps the most prominent mimic or ‘duplicate' of Amitabh Bachchan. They had another special bond – both were from UP and Amitabh Bachchan's original family name was Srivastava.

Ina tribute on his blog, Amitabh Bachchan said he was asked to send a voice note to awaken the late comedian while he was being treated at AIIMS in Delhi. He did not expressly name Raju Srivastava.

“Another colleague friend and creative artist leaves us.. a sudden ailment and gone before time .. before his creativity time completion .. each day in the morning with him in spirit and information from near ones .. they got advised to send a voice to awaken his condition .. i did .. they played it for him in his state in his ears,” Mr Bachchan wrote, claiming that  “on one instance he did open his eye a bit, and then went away”.