Mumbai: Renowned actor Pradeep Singh Rawat better known as Pradeep Rawat, celebrated for his iconic performances across Indian television and pan-Indian cinema, has passed away at the age of 74. The veteran artist succumbed to blood cancer on Tuesday evening while undergoing treatment at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai.

News of his demise was confirmed by Nepali actress Vipana Thapa, who worked alongside him in cinema. Expressing her profound grief on social media, Thapa paid tribute to her late colleague, prompting a wave of condolences from actors, filmmakers and fans across the globe.

A master of antagonist roles and cross-border cinema

Rawat first etched his name into public memory with his striking portrayal of Ashwatthama in B R Chopra's legendary television series ‘Mahabharat’. He later transitioned seamlessly into mainstream Indian cinema, becoming one of the most recognisable screen antagonists of his generation. His powerful performances in critically acclaimed Hindi blockbusters such as ‘Sarfarosh’, ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Ghajini’ earned him widespread admiration.

Beyond his extensive work in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu cinema, Rawat also left a notable footprint in Nepali films. He collaborated with director Chandra Pant on ‘Hraswa Deergha’ and shared the screen with Vipana Thapa in ‘Aabaat Aama’ and its sequel, ‘Aabaat Aama-2’.
He has also acted in Malayalam movies such as China Town (2011), Ithu Pathiramanal (2013) and Cousins (2014). 

Tributes pour in across film industry

Following the announcement, tributes have flooded in from across the entertainment industry as artists and audiences alike remember a remarkably versatile performer whose decades-long career left an indelible mark on screen.