‘Ghajini’ Fame Actor Pradeep Rawat Passes Away at 74

Veteran Indian actor Pradeep Rawat, best known for portraying the menacing villain in Ghajini, has passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 74.

The news of his death was confirmed by his manager, Siddharth Tiwari, who told Indian media that Rawat had been undergoing treatment in hospital for more than a month after his cancer returned. Despite extensive medical efforts, he could not be saved.

Several members of India's film industry have expressed their condolences following the actor's death.

Born on January 21, 1952, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Pradeep Rawat began his acting career on television. He first gained recognition for portraying Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra's iconic television series Mahabharat before making a successful transition to films.

Rawat made his film debut with Aitbaar in 1985. During the 1990s, he appeared in several notable Hindi films, including Agneepath, Koyla, Sarfarosh, and Major Saab. He rose to wider prominence with his role as Deva Singh Sodhi in the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan (2001). However, it was his portrayal of the ruthless antagonist in the Tamil blockbuster Ghajini (2005), starring Suriya, and its Hindi remake Ghajini (2008), starring Aamir Khan, that made him a household name across India and beyond.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, Rawat appeared in over 100 films and television productions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Nepali and several other languages. His commanding screen presence, deep voice and memorable villainous performances earned him a lasting place in Indian cinema.

He was last seen in the Bollywood film Chhaava, released in 2025.

For his performances, Rawat received the Filmfare Award (Telugu) for Best Villain and the prestigious Nandi Award in 2004.