Mumbai: Actor Pradeep Rawat, best known for his performances in Ghajini and BR Chopra’s Mahabharata, died of cancer at the age of 74 on Tuesday evening at a hospital in Mumbai. The news of his passing was confirmed by his Lagaan co-actor Yashpal Sharma, who later also announced the details of Rawat’s final rites.
What happened to Pradeep Rawat?
As per reports, Pradeep Rawat was diagnosed with blood cancer five years back. His health condition was improving after his treatment; however, the disease reappeared a few months back. It is reported that the actor was admitted to the hospital a couple of months back, and he has been in a critical state for a few days. Finally, the veteran actor breathed his last on Tuesday night.
Where will the funeral take place?
As per the post shared by the actor Yashpal Sharma, the funeral ceremony of Pradeep Rawat will take place on Wednesday at Goregaon, Mumbai.
In the Instagram post is a loving obituary which says that, “With deep grief, we announce that our dear departed Pradeep Singh Rawat is now gone to his heavenly abode. You are respectfully requested to attend the last viewing and last rites ceremony of our departed dear one.”
What about Pradeep Rawat’s career?
The veteran actor has not only worked in Hindi films but also in various regional languages including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Pradeep Rawat made his film debut in Mahabharata, where he acted as Ashwatthama. Later, he has worked in various Hindi films and TV serials. But there was a stage in life when he decided to change his field towards the South Indian film industry.
Pradeep Rawat has worked in some South Indian films too, mainly in the role of a villain. The first thing that happened with him in the South Indian film industry was that he worked with the legendary S.S.Rajamouli of Indian cinema. In 2004, the director made a film named Sye in which he played the role of Bhikshu Yadav and won an award. He then joined the Tamil film Ghajini, in which he acted as the villain, which went on to become a Hindi hit.
How was Pradeep’s experience of working in South?
A few years ago, Pradeep Rawat revealed his reasons for leaving the Hindi film industry and going to the South. The veteran actor said that actors of the South earn many times more than Bollywood actors. He said, “Now, actors are paid more in the South than in Mumbai; if they get Rs 100 in Mumbai, they will get Rs 300 in the South. There’s a triple difference.”
“In Bollywood you have to ask for payment, but in the south the actors will be paid Rs 3 lakh per day; if they work in Mumbai they are paid Rs 1 lakh per day.” Pradeep Rawat said that he never demanded any money from Maddock Films in advance. He was at that time busy on Vicky Kaushal’s Chawa, which he termed as his best set experience after Lagaan.
