Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, widely known for playing iconic villains and powerful character roles across Indian cinema, passed away on Tuesday evening, August 4, 2026. He was 74 years old.
The actor had been battling blood cancer for the past five years. Although he had previously recovered, the illness relapsed a few months prior to his passing. He was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai and later treated at a specialty cancer facility in Bhiwandi. His manager, Siddharth Tiwari, confirmed that he died between 6:00 PM and 6:30 PM after his platelet count dropped suddenly.
The sad news was shared publicly by his Lagaan co-star, actor Yashpal Sharma, who paid tribute on social media writing: “Pradeep Rawat, our Ghajini, Deva of Lagaan, RIP.” The final rites and last ceremonies are scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
A Career Across TV and Bollywood
Pradeep Rawat began his acting journey in 1985 with the Hindi film Meri Jung. He gained widespread popularity on television in 1988 when he played the role of Ashwatthama in B. R. Chopra’s legendary series Mahabharat.
Over the decades, he established himself as one of Hindi cinema’s most dependable screen antagonists with key performances in blockbusters such as:
- Sarfarosh
- Lagaan (as Deva Singh Sodhi)
- Ghajini (as the feared titular villain Ghajini Dharmatma, acting alongside Aamir Khan)
Blockbuster Impact in Regional Cinema
In 2004, Rawat made a massive impact in Telugu cinema (Tollywood) with director S. S. Rajamouli’s sports-action drama Sye. His chilling portrayal of Bikshu Yadav won him both the Nandi Award and the Filmfare Award for Best Villain.
He went on to feature alongside top stars in a string of hit Telugu films, including:
- Chatrapathi (with Prabhas)
- Andarivadu
- Lakshmi
- Stalin
- Desamuduru
- Naayak
- 1: Nenokkadine (with Mahesh Babu)
- Sarrainodu
- Jai Lava Kusa
- Waltair Veerayya
- Gaayapadda Simham (his last Telugu release)
In Tamil cinema, he debuted in Silambarasan TR’s Thotti Jaya, reprised his villainous role in Suriya’s Tamil original Ghajini, and was recently seen in Santhanam’s DD Returns. Across his career spanning four decades, Rawat worked in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Nepali films.
Film fraternity members, co-stars, and millions of fans across India have poured in tributes to honor his towering screen presence, versatility, and dedication to the craft.