Bengaluru: Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, best known for portraying Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra’s iconic television series Mahabharat, passed away on Monday after battling blood cancer. He was 74.
The news of his demise was confirmed by actor Yashpal Sharma on social media, with tributes pouring in from the Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil film industries.
Rawat rose to national prominence with Mahabharat in 1988 before making his Bollywood debut in Salman Khan-starrer Baaghi (1990). He later became one of Indian cinema’s most recognised villains with memorable performances in Lagaan and Ghajini.
In Telugu cinema, he earned widespread acclaim for roles in Sye, Chatrapathi, Desamuduru and Rajanna, winning both the Filmfare and Nandi Awards for his performance as Bhikshu Yadav in Sye.
Rawat also enjoyed a successful career in Kannada cinema, appearing in films such as Gaja, Abhay, Bachchan, Shivalinga, Lakshmana and Champion, besides making his debut with Parodi.
Having worked across Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil cinema for over three decades, Rawat leaves behind a rich legacy of memorable performances that earned him admiration across the Indian film industry.
