Pradeep Rawat's son breaks down in tears at funeral; recalls actor's final moments

On August 4, veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, 74, passed away after a battle with aggressive blood cancer. The actor, known for roles in films such as Sarfarosh, Lagaan, Sye, Naayak and Ghajini, had been hospitalized following a relapse of the disease. His wife, Kalyani Rawat, and their son, Vikramaditya Rawat, survived him.

During the funeral rites, Vikramaditya was seen breaking into tears while performing the last rites, trying to keep a brave front for his mother and the gathered family. The emotional scene was captured in footage that circulated online, showing the son’s grief as he carried out the traditional rituals.

Vikramaditya later spoke to the media, detailing the sequence of events that led to his father’s diagnosis. He recalled that the family initially thought Pradeep was suffering from a minor stomach infection, but when the symptoms did not improve, a blood test revealed a dangerously high white‑blood‑cell count. “We immediately took him to Kokilaben Hospital, where the doctors told us there was a 99 per cent chance it was blood cancer,” he said. The diagnosis was confirmed a day later, leaving the family devastated.

He added that just two months earlier, Pradeep’s medical reports had been normal. “Yesterday his platelets dropped to 3000; platelets should be above 3 lakhs,” Vikramaditya explained. He recounted rushing outside the ICU to see doctors performing CPR on his father, a moment that shattered him further. “That’s when I understood. Then my mum started crying. That’s it,” he said, fighting back tears.

The funeral was attended by several prominent Bollywood personalities. Aamir Khan was visibly emotional, while director Ashutosh Gowariker and other industry colleagues gathered to pay their respects. Salman Khan also mourned the actor’s passing, posting on Instagram, “Shared many good moments with you brother… May you rest in peace.” Vikramaditya expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, saying, “I’m sure he’s in a better place. He would be happy that so many people showed up. Thank you very much.”