Chandigarh, Oct 25 (PTI): Popular comedian and film director Jaspal Bhatti, who shot to fame with his television series Flop Show and Ulta Pulta during the golden days of state-owned Doordarshan in the late 1980s and early 1990s, died when his car rammed in to a roadside tree in the early hours of Thursday.

The satirist's son Jasraj, who was driving the car, and actress Surilie Gautam, the heroine of his film 'Power Cut', which is to be released Friday, were seriously injured in the accident, police said.

The 57-year-old actor-director, who made his way into the hearts of people with 'Ulta Pulta' and 'Flop Show', was on a tour to promote the film when the accident took place near Shahkot in Nakodar area of the district at 2:30am, Bhatti's associate Vinod Sharma told PTI here.

They were rushed to a private hospital in Jalandhar where Bhatti was declared brought dead.

Bhatti leaves behind his wife Savita, son Jasraj and a daughter, Raabiya.        Sharma said that Bhatti was going to Jalandhar from Bhatinda for the promotion of his Punjabi film, which is based on the frequent power cuts in Punjab.

Bhatti's son Jasraj and Gautam have been referred to a Ludhiana hospital now.

According to doctors, they are in a stable but critical condition.

Born on March 3, 1955, at Amritsar, Bhatti graduated from Punjab Engineering College at Chandigarh as an electrical engineer.

During his college days, he was popular for his street plays, which were spoofs ridiculing corruption in society. Before venturing into television, he was a cartoonist for the The Tribune newspaper in Chandigarh.

His satire on the Punjab police 'Mahaul Theek Hai' was his first directorial venture in Punjabi language. He played the role of Jolly Good Singh, a guard, in the movie 'Fanaa'.

He also starred in the comedy Punjabi film 'Jijaji'.

Bhatti and his wife Savita competed in a reality show 'Nach Baliye' in 2008. The couple put their best foot forward to entertain the audiences with their dancing and comic skills.

The cremation is expected to take place on Thursday evening, after his body is brought here after completion of various legal formalities, including post-mortem, Sharma said.