Veteran Indian actor Pradeep Rawat dies at 74 after cancer

Veteran Indian actor Pradeep Rawat, celebrated for his powerful villainous and character roles across multiple film industries, died on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in Mumbai after a prolonged battle with blood cancer. He was 74. His final rites were performed the following day, August 5, in the city, drawing colleagues and admirers from across the film fraternity.

Rawat passed away between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. local time at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, according to his manager, Siddharth Tiwari. Tiwari stated the actor had been fighting blood cancer for five years and had suffered a severe relapse approximately six weeks prior to his death, leading to his hospitalization over a month ago. He is survived by his wife, Kalyani, and his son, Vikramaditya, who performed the final rituals at a crematorium in Jogeshwari West.

The news prompted an immediate outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans. Superstar Salman Khan, who co-starred with Rawat in the 1990 film "Baaghi: A Rebel for Love," shared a nostalgic photo on social media with a note remembering the good moments they shared. Aamir Khan, who worked with Rawat on several landmark films, paid a detailed tribute, calling...