Ludhiana, Aug. 23 -- Veteran Punjabi actor Jaswinder Bhalla, who passed away in Mohali on Friday, is fondly remembered by friends as a man who carried an extraordinary gift, the ability to keep his inner child alive even at the age of 65. From Kaddon village near Doraha to the lecture halls of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and later to Punjabi cinema, where he became a household name, Bhalla lived many roles. Yet, his friends say the role he played best was staying true to himself - a man who never let his inner child fade. According to a statement issued by Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Bhalla was brought to the hospital's emergency department on August 20, with an acute brain haemorrhage. "He was in a critical condition at the time of admission and was placed under the care of the hospital's neurosurgery team. He was managed on a ventilator along with cardio-supportive medication for two days. Despite the best clinical care and all resuscitative efforts, his condition did not improve. Due to the severity of the illness, he passed away at 4:35 am on Friday," the statement added. Bhalla is survived by his mother, wife, son, and daughter. Bhalla's last rites will take place in Mohali on Saturday. Poet Gurbhajan Singh Gill, his close friend for over five decades, said this quality defined Bhalla both on and off the screen. "He had the rare innocence of a child combined with the wisdom of a man his age. Despite all the fame and limelight, he stayed grounded, mischievous, playful, just like the characters he portrayed. That is why people of every generation connected with him," Gill said. Gill first met Bhalla when he was a teenager. "Back then, he was in Class 10, walking around Doraha with a handkerchief tied to his 'joora' (hair bun). Even then, his wit sparkled. Son of a school teacher, Bhalla was a precocious student of Government High School in Doraha. His father helped hone his son's talent by making him sing at the Ramlila stage. The university gave him a chance to grow and shine. PAU's cultural incharge, Kesho Ram, spotted Bhalla's flair for wit and groomed him with another PAU student, Bal Mukand Sharma, for comic skit performances. Soon enough, the duo became regular performers at the Prof Mohan Singh Mela, an annual cultural festival held in memory of the renowned poet Later, when he created "Chhankata" in 1988 and brought the fictional character of Chacha Chatar Singh to life, it was simply an extension of that same childlike humour," he recalled. "Punjab has lost a star, but I have lost a companion, a son, and a friend. He never let life's burdens weigh him down. That's why, even at 65, he could laugh, joke, and spread cheer like a boy," Gill said. Former deputy inspector general of police Gurpreet Singh Toor, who was Bhalla's classmate during his BSc days, said the actor's unpretentious personality left people awestruck far beyond Punjab. "When we travelled to Uttar Pradesh, at roadside dhabas and railway crossings, crowds would gather just to see him. He greeted everyone with the same boyish smile. He made strangers feel like friends," Toor said. "He was not keeping well for the past few months and had lost his memory, too. Around two months ago, the family brought him to Ludhiana, as he wished to see his friends. I was overwhelmed to see him remember our college days despite his health condition," he said. Ludhiana-based dentist TP Singh, who knew him for 20 years, remembered how Bhalla turned even clinic visits into moments of joy. "People queued up not for treatment but to take selfies with him. And he never said no. His patience and playfulness made him special," Dr Singh said. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann met the family of the actor and expressed his condolences.. "The sudden departure of Jaswinder Bhalla Ji from this world is extremely sorrowful. The heart is saddened by the silence of the jingle of Chhankatian. May Waheguru grant him a place at His feet. Chacha Chatar will always reside in our hearts," Mann wrote in a post on X. Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that Bhalla, who spread the fragrance of laughter through his art, has fallen silent forever....