Indian actor Pradeep Rawat dies at 74

Veteran Indian actor Pradeep Rawat, best known for portraying the antagonist in Ghajini, has died at the age of 74 after battling blood cancer.

Rawat breathed his last at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday evening, Indian media reported.

With a career spanning more than four decades, Rawat appeared in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films. He rose to prominence with his portrayal of the villain in the 2005 Tamil blockbuster Ghajini and later reprised the role in the 2008 Hindi remake starring Aamir Khan.

He also played a key role in Lagaan and was widely recognised by television audiences for portraying Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra’s acclaimed TV series Mahabharat.

Rawat made his film debut with Meri Jung in 1985 and went on to feature in several successful films, including The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, Stalin and Veeram. He entered Telugu cinema with S.S. Rajamouli’s Sye in 2004 and became one of South Indian cinema’s most recognisable screen villains.

SKS