Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat dies at 74 after battle with blood cancer

Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, known for his powerful portrayals of iconic villains in films such as Ghajini, Lagaan and the television epic Mahabharat, died on Tuesday evening at the age of 74 after a prolonged battle with blood cancer.

Rawat passed away at a hospital in Bhiwandi after suffering a relapse of the disease about six weeks ago. His manager, Siddharth Tiwari, said the actor had been fighting blood cancer for the past five years and had previously recovered before the illness returned. He was hospitalised for nearly a month before his condition deteriorated due to a sharp drop in platelet count.

He is survived by his wife, Kalyani Rawat, and son, Vikramaditya. Co-star Yashpal Sharma confirmed the news on social media, saying Rawat’s final rites would be held on Wednesday.

The news prompted an outpouring of tributes from the film industry. Yashpal Sharma remembered him as “our Ghajini, Deva of Lagaan,” while the All Indian Cine Workers Association hailed Rawat’s immense contribution to Indian cinema, describing him as an actor whose unforgettable performances would be cherished for generations.

Born on January 21, 1952, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Rawat enjoyed a career spanning more than four decades across Hindi, Telugu and Tamil cinema.

He first became a household name as Ashwatthama in the 1988 television series Mahabharat. He later delivered memorable performances as Sultan in Sarfarosh, the fiery cricketer Deva Singh Sodhi in the Oscar-nominated Lagaan, and the menacing antagonist in Ghajini, a role he had earlier portrayed in the 2005 Tamil original. His commanding screen presence made him one of Indian cinema’s most recognisable character actors and villains.