Jaswinder Bhalla : A Biography

 

 

Jaswinder Bhalla (4 May 1960 - 22 Aug 2025) was an Indian actor and comedian who worked in Punjabi cinema. He started his professional career as a comedian in 1988 with Chhankata 88 and became an actor with film Dulla Bhatti.

He was best known for his comedy series Chhankata and comedy roles in various Punjabi films. He also performed in stage acts and has done tours of Canada and Australia for his stage show Naughty Baba in Town.

Early life - Mr. Bhalla was born on 4 May 1960 in the city of Ludhiana. His father Master Bahadur Singh Bhalla was a primary school teacher in village Barmalipur. He got his basic education from Senior Secondary School Doraha.

Education and career - He did his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Punjab Agricultural University and his Ph.D. from Chaudhary Charan Singh Post Graduate College, Meerut. He began his career as an Assistant Professor in the PAU, and was serving as a Professor and Head, Department of Extension Education when he retired from active service on 31 May 2020.

Comedy career - Bhalla and two of his schoolmates got selected for All India Radio in 1975. As a student at Punjab Agricultural University, Bhalla had done comedy performances in university programmes. He started his professional career in 1988 along with co-performer Bal Mukund Sharma with audio cassette Chhankata 1988.Bal Mukund Sharma and Bhalla were classmates in Punjab Agriculture University. Word chhankata originated from the college level annual show performed by Bhalla and Sharma in PAU. They were noticed by Doordarshan Kendra, Jalandhar while performing in Professor Mohan Singh Mela (cultural festival) on the personal backing of Punjabi author Jagdev Singh Jassowal. He has released over 27 audio and video albums of the Chhankata series. Apart from Bal Mukund Sharma, Neelu Sharma has also been part of the Chhankata series. Starting with Chhankata 2002, the series was also released in the form of video cassettes.

Popular characters - In his Chhankata series, he portrayed many characters carefully chosen from all walks of Punjabi society. One of the main characters is Chacha (Uncle) Chatar Singh, who is an old villager and talks about Punjab's politics, differences between rural and urban life, and tells jokes from all walks of life. Another character he portrays is Bhana, a youngster from Chatar Singh's village who has emigrated to the USA and appears in the Chhankata as NRI. JB, another character portrayed by Bhalla, is the son of Chatar Singh. Another notable character is Taya Fumhan Singh.

Film career - Bhalla worked in Punjabi movies like Mahaul Theek Hai, Jija Ji, Jihne Mera Dil Luteya, Power cut, Kabaddi Once Again, Apan Phir Milange, Mel Kara De Rabba, Carry On Jatta, Jatt and Juliet, Jatt Airways. In some Punjabi films, he always spoke with different Takia Klams, Such as Mein Taa Bhannduu Bullan Naal Akhrote, Je Chandigarh Dhaijoo Pinda Warga Taa Rehjooo or Dhillon Ne Kaalaa Cot Aiven Ni Payeya. He said through his art, he highlighted social evils like female foeticide, drugs and unemployment.

Death - Mr. Bhalla died on 22nd August 2025 due to brain stroke.