'Ghajini' villain Pradeep Rawat passes away

Veteran Indian actor Pradeep Rawat, best known for his menacing portrayal of the villain in Ghajini, has died after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 74.

The actor's death was confirmed by his manager, Siddharth Tiwari, who said Rawat had been undergoing treatment for more than a month after his health deteriorated in recent weeks.

Born on January 21, 1952, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Rawat began his acting career on television before making his film debut with Aitbaar in 1985. He first gained recognition for playing Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra's iconic television series Mahabharat.

Throughout the 1990s, Rawat built a reputation with memorable performances in films including Agneepath, Koyla, Sarfarosh and Major Saab. However, it was his chilling performance as the antagonist in the Tamil blockbuster Ghajini (2005) and its Hindi remake (2008) opposite Aamir Khan that made him a household name across the subcontinent.

He also earned widespread acclaim for portraying Deva Singh Sodhi in the Oscar-nominated epic Lagaan (2001).

During a career spanning more than four decades, Rawat appeared in over 100 films and television productions across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Nepali and several other languages. Known for his commanding screen presence, deep voice and intense performances, he became one of Indian cinema's most recognisable screen villains.

His final screen appearance came in the film Chhaava.

In recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, Rawat received the Filmfare Award (Telugu) and the Nandi Award in 2004.

Tributes have poured in from actors, filmmakers and fans across social media, with many remembering him as a powerful performer whose iconic villainous roles left a lasting mark on Indian cinema.