Bengaluru: Veteran Kannada actor Harish Rai, known for his memorable roles in ‘Om’ and the ‘KGF’ franchise, passed away on Thursday at the age of 55 after a prolonged battle with stage 4 thyroid cancer.

Rai had been undergoing treatment at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru for over a year. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and receiving palliative care, reports indicate that the cancer had spread to his stomach and other organs in recent months.

Open about his illness and the financial challenges of his treatment, the actor had previously spoken to the media about the soaring medical costs. He revealed that a single injection cost ₹3.55 lakh, with three injections required per cycle every 63 days, amounting to about ₹10.5 lakh per cycle. For patients in advanced stages, the total expense could reach nearly ₹70 lakh.

Addressing earlier reports about receiving support from KGF star Yash, Rai had clarified that while he had not sought help this time, the two shared a close friendship.

“Yash has helped me before. I cannot keep asking him every time. How much can one person do? I know if he comes to know, he will definitely stand by me. He is just one call away, though he is busy with his upcoming film Toxic,” Rai had said.

Over a career spanning several decades, Harish Rai appeared in numerous Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu films. His notable works include ‘Om’, ‘Samara’, ‘Bangalore Underworld’, ‘Jodihakki’, ‘Raj Bahadur’, ‘Sanju Weds Geetha’, ‘Swayamvara, Nalla’, and essayed the role of Chacha in both chapters of ‘KGF’.

Fans and colleagues from the South Indian film industry have expressed their grief, remembering him as a talented performer and a warm, humble presence on and off screen.