Cinema VinesVeteran Indian actor Pradeep Rawat, best remembered for his powerful portrayal of the villain Ghajini in the 2008 blockbuster starring Aamir Khan, has died in Mumbai at the age of 74. The news of his passing was first shared by fellow actor Yashpal Sharma, who paid tribute to his longtime colleague in an emotional Instagram post on Tuesday.
According to Rawat’s manager, Siddharth Tiwari, the actor had been battling cancer that had relapsed. Tiwari confirmed that Rawat had been admitted to the hospital for more than a month and had passed away a few hours before the announcement. He was survived by his wife and son, Vikramaditya.
Rawat’s career spanned more than four decades, during which he worked across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Nepali film industries. He first gained national attention on television, playing Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra’s iconic series Mahabharat, before moving into films where he carved a niche as a formidable character actor, especially in negative roles. His notable film credits include Lagaan, Ghajini, Sye, Rowdy Rathore, and several Telugu hits.
Yashpal Sharma’s tribute highlighted Rawat’s impact on the industry, writing, “Pradeep Rawat Our Gajini Deva of Lagaan RIP.” The actor’s legacy is remembered for his intense screen presence and the depth he brought to every antagonist he portrayed.
Rishabh Suri, an assistant editor at HT City, reflected on the actor’s career and the broader entertainment landscape, noting the importance of cutting through industry noise to focus on storytelling and trend shifts. Rawat’s death marks the loss of a respected figure whose work left a lasting imprint on Indian cinema.
