Pradeep Rawat, ‘Ghajini’ actor, dies at 74 after cancer relapse

Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, best known for his menacing turn as Ghajini in A.R. Murugadoss’ blockbuster of the same name, has died in Mumbai at the age of 74.

Rawat had been battling a relapse of blood cancer and had been hospitalised for more than a month, with his manager confirming that his condition deteriorated sharply in recent days. The news of his death was first shared publicly by actor Yashpal Sharma, whose tribute described Rawat as “our Ghajini Deva of Lagaan”, prompting an immediate wave of condolences across the industry.

Rawat’s career spanned more than three decades across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu cinema, with standout performances in ‘Lagaan’, ‘Sarfarosh’, ‘Ghajini’, ‘Sye’ and ‘Magadheera’. His imposing screen presence and distinctive voice made him one of the most recognisable antagonists of the 2000s, earning him a steady slate of roles across mainstream and regional productions. Colleagues frequently credited him for bringing a theatrical intensity to commercial cinema, with directors often relying on him to anchor high‑stakes conflict sequences.

Rawat is survived by his wife, Kalyani Rawat, and son, Vikramaditya. The family is expected to release funeral details shortly, with the film fraternity preparing to pay respects to an actor whose work left a lasting imprint across multiple industries.