Mohali, Aug. 23 -- Family, friends, and fans gathered in Mohali on Saturday to pay their last respects to veteran Punjabi actor and comedian Jaswinder Bhalla at his residence.

Bhalla died on Friday morning at Fortis Hospital in Mohali after battling illness for the past few months. The actor was 65.

Remembering Bhalla's contribution, Punjab Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who arrived to pay his last tributes to the actor, called him "a true son of the Punjabi language." He added that Bhalla not only entertained but also "raised social issues through satire."

"He was a true son of the Punjabi language. He ruled the Punjabi industry with his acting and raised social issues through satire... This loss will never be compensated," Tarunpree...