Indian cinema has lost one of its most commanding screen presences. Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat passed away on the evening of August 4, 2026, at a hospital in Bhiwandi after his platelet count dropped suddenly following a prolonged battle with blood cancer. He was 74.
Rawat had been battling blood cancer for the past five years. Though he had recovered in the past, the cancer relapsed a few months ago, following which he had been hospitalised at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital for several weeks before being shifted to a cancer specialty hospital.
The news of his passing was first shared by his Lagaan co-star Yashpal Sharma, who posted an emotional tribute on Instagram: “Pradeep Rawat — our Ghajini, Deva of Lagaan — RIP.” The post triggered an immediate outpouring of grief from across the Indian film industry.
A Career That Spanned Five Decades
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 widespread recognition for playing Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra’s iconic television series Mahabharat.
His big-screen breakthrough came with Ashutosh Gowariker’s Oscar-nominated Lagaan (2001), where he played the fierce and loyal Deva Singh. But it was his chilling portrayal of the ruthless Ghajini Dharmatma in A.R. Murugadoss’ Tamil blockbuster Ghajini (2005) that made him a pan-India icon. 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.
Rawat leaves behind a body of work that stretched across five decades and over a dozen languages — from mythological television to modern thrillers — creating characters that stayed with viewers long after the credits rolled.
He is survived by his wife and son. Indian cinema has lost a legend — but Ghajini’s menacing gaze will never be forgotten.
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