Cinema VinesActor Pradeep Rawat, known for his commanding villain roles across Hindi and Telugu cinema, passed away on August 4 at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer that had relapsed. The veteran performer, who first made a household name in India as Ashwatthama in BR Chopra’s iconic television series Mahabharat, found a new platform in Telugu films following his debut in SS Rajamouli’s 2004 hit Sye.
In Sye, Rawat portrayed the menacing Bikshu Yadav, a septum‑ring‑wearing antagonist who challenged a group of college students. The role cemented his reputation as one of Tollywood’s most memorable villains and opened doors to major projects such as Chhatrapati (starring Prabhas), Stalin (with Chiranjeevi), and Desamuduru (led by Allu Arjun). He also appeared in the 2005 Tamil blockbuster Ghajini, which was later dubbed in Telugu.
Rawat’s final on‑screen appearance came in May of this year in Kasyap Sreenivas’s Gaayapadda Simham, starring Tharun Bhascker and Faria Abdullah. In a nod to his iconic character, he was credited as Bikshu Das, though without the septum ring. The film’s narrative saw him as a black‑magic practitioner who also served as a supportive father to his son, Bhairav Das (played by Sree Vishnu), blending action, comedy, and familial themes.
After a month of hospitalization, Rawat’s health deteriorated, and he succumbed to the disease early Tuesday. His manager, Siddharth Tiwari, confirmed to HT City that the actor had been suffering from cancer, which had relapsed, and that he had passed a few hours earlier. The actor’s wife, Kalyani, and son, Vikramaditya, survived him. Fellow actor Yashpal Sharma paid tribute on social media, writing, “Pradeep Rawat Our Gajini Deva of Lagaan RIP.” His last rites are scheduled for Wednesday.
In addition to his Telugu work, Rawat’s Hindi filmography includes the 2025 release Chhaava alongside Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, and Akshaye Khanna. He also appeared in the 2023 Tamil film DD Returns, the 2019 Malayalam movie Oru Kadathu Naadan Kadha, and the 2022 Kannada feature Champion. Beyond acting, Rawat held a Master’s degree in Journalism and spent over a decade as a field reporter and sub‑editor for prominent publications such as The Times of India and Reader’s Digest.
