Ghajini, Lagaan actor Pradeep Rawat dies of blood cancer

Renowned actor Pradeep Rawat, known for playing iconic characters like Ghajini in the 2008 film, died at the age of 74. 

According to reports, he was receiving treatment for blood cancer. He was reportedly admitted to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. 

Yashpal Sharma, who worked with him in Lagaan, mourned his demise. Rawat’s manager confirmed that he was in the hospital for over a month. Further details about his last rites and funeral are yet to be disclosed by his relatives.

Confirming Pradeep’s demise after a long battle with cancer, his manager Siddharth Tiwari told Hindustan Times that he breathed his last on Tuesday. He was diagnosed with blood cancer and it had relapsed. Pradeep is survived by his wife and son Vikramaditya.

Workwise, Pradeep was known for playing antagonists in various Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, and Bhojpuri films. In the initial years of his career, he played Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra's iconic television series Mahabharat.

When he transitioned to Hindi films, Rawat immortalised characters such as Sarfarosh’s Sultan, Lagaan's Deva Singh, and most importantly, Ghajini, in which he played the titular role of ruthless gangster Ghajini Dharmatma. He featured in both Tamil and Hindi versions.

Throughout his career, he has worked with most Bollywood actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Vicky Kaushal and many more. Celebrities offered condolences through social media platforms.