Mumbai: Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, celebrated for portraying some of Indian cinema's most memorable villains, will be laid to rest on Wednesday, August 5, following his death at the age of 74. The actor, who was widely known for his performances in Ghajini, Lagaan, and the iconic television series Mahabharat, passed away on Tuesday evening after a prolonged battle with blood cancer. His final rites are expected to take place in the presence of family members, close friends, and colleagues from the film industry.

Rawat is survived by his wife Kalyani Rawat and son Vikramaditya Rawat. The details of his funeral were confirmed by actor Yashpal Sharma, who shared screen space with him in the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan. Sharma took to social media to inform fans and members of the film fraternity that the actor's final darshan and funeral would be held on Wednesday. His post also served as a heartfelt tribute to a colleague and friend whose performances left a lasting impact on Indian cinema.

The news of Rawat's passing was confirmed by his manager, Siddharth Tiwari, who revealed that the actor had been fighting blood cancer for nearly five years. According to him, Rawat had successfully battled the disease once before, but the illness returned about six weeks ago. Since then, he had been undergoing treatment and was admitted to a hospital in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. His condition deteriorated after his platelet count dropped significantly, and despite medical efforts, he could not recover. He passed away on August 4 between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm.

The news triggered an outpouring of grief across the entertainment industry. Yashpal Sharma remembered his Lagaan co-star with an emotional message, referring to him by his iconic characters from Ghajini and Lagaan. Several actors, filmmakers, and fans also took to social media to pay tribute, recalling Rawat's powerful screen presence and his ability to leave a lasting impression even in supporting roles.

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) also expressed condolences, describing Rawat as one of Bollywood's finest character actors. In its tribute, the association highlighted his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema, particularly his memorable portrayals of negative characters that became an integral part of several successful films. The organisation stated that his performances would continue to inspire generations of actors and remain cherished by cinema lovers.

Born on January 21, 1952, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Pradeep Rawat built an acting career that spanned more than four decades. He worked extensively not only in Hindi cinema but also in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bhojpuri films, earning recognition across multiple film industries. His versatility allowed him to seamlessly portray villains, supporting characters, and strong personality-driven roles throughout his career.

Many television viewers first recognised Rawat as Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra's Mahabharat (1988), a role that remains one of the most memorable portrayals in the legendary mythological series. The performance established him as a familiar face in Indian households long before he became one of Bollywood's most dependable character actors.

His film career reached new heights with memorable performances in several blockbuster films. In Sarfarosh (1999), he portrayed Sultan, while in Lagaan (2001), he played the fierce fast bowler Deva Singh Sodhi, a performance that earned widespread appreciation. Rawat later became synonymous with the ruthless villain Ghajini Dharmatma, first playing the role in the 2005 Tamil original before reprising it in the 2008 Hindi remake starring Aamir Khan. The character remains one of the most iconic antagonists in modern Indian cinema.

Beyond these celebrated performances, Rawat appeared in numerous successful films across languages, earning respect for his commanding voice, intimidating screen presence, and ability to portray intense characters with conviction. His contribution to Indian cinema extended well beyond commercial success, as he consistently delivered memorable performances that elevated every project he was part of.

1. Mughal-e-Azam (1960) — At a time when Indian cinema was still finding its scale, this historical epic proved audiences would show up for genuine grandeur — elaborate sets, years-long production timelines, and a visual ambition few filmmakers had dared attempt before it.

2. Sholay (1975) — Shot in 70mm and built around a genre-blending mix of action, comedy and drama, Sholay effectively invented the "masala film" template that Bollywood commercial cinema has leaned on ever since, while giving the industry its most quoted villain in Gabbar Singh.

3. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) — Beyond making Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol a defining on-screen pairing, DDLJ reshaped how Bollywood approached the diaspora audience, blending NRI settings with traditional Indian values in a formula the industry spent the next decade replicating.

4. Lagaan (2001) — A three-hour period drama built around a cricket match sounds like a hard sell, yet it became a global crossover hit and earned an Academy Award nomination, proving unconventional scripts could still be commercially massive.

5. Dil Chahta Hai (2001) — Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut gave urban, English-speaking Indian youth a genre of their own — naturalistic dialogue, real friendships, real relationship anxieties — reshaping what a "youth film" could sound like for the next two decades of Bollywood.

6. Taare Zameen Par (2007) — Before this film, mainstream Bollywood had barely touched learning disabilities. Aamir Khan's story of a dyslexic child forced open a conversation about neurodivergence and educational pressure that Indian cinema had largely avoided until then.

7. Article 15 (2019) — A mainstream commercial film built directly around caste-based violence and systemic discrimination, delivered without the usual softening Bollywood applies to hard social subjects — a genuine departure from how the industry had historically handled caste on screen.

8. Gully Boy (2019) — Built around Mumbai's underground hip-hop scene and inspired by real street rappers, the film gave Bollywood a genuinely new subculture to draw from, opening space for grittier, music-driven urban stories that didn't exist in the mainstream before it.

9. Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and The Conclusion (2017) — Technically Telugu rather than Hindi cinema, but its dubbed Hindi release rewired the entire industry's ambitions around scale, VFX investment and pan-India distribution, a shift Bollywood itself has been reacting to ever since.

10. Andhadhun (2018) — Proof that even in an era dominated by franchise thinking, a tightly written, morally ambiguous thriller with no easy resolution could still become one of the decade's most talked-about films — pulling Bollywood's thriller genre out of its more predictable habits.

From 70mm spectacle to street rap to a film that refused to resolve its own ending neatly, the throughline is the same: each of these took a real risk with either form, subject matter or scale — and the industry around them adjusted because of it.

1. Mother India (1957) — Nargis's performance as a mother battling poverty and circumstance for her family's survival gave Hindi cinema one of its most enduring emotional templates. It also became one of the first Indian films to earn an Academy Award nomination, putting Bollywood on the global map decades before that was common.

2. Mughal-e-Azam (1960) — A historical romance so lavish it took years to complete, telling the story of Prince Salim and the courtesan Anarkali against the backdrop of Mughal-era politics. Its scale and its music still get referenced as a high-water mark for the genre.

3. Guide (1965) — Adapted from R.K. Narayan's novel, this one took real risks with its story of a tour guide's transformation into an accidental spiritual figure — heavier, stranger territory than most films of its time attempted.

4. Sholay (1975) — Often just called the greatest Indian film ever made. Its blend of western-style action, comedy and friendship — anchored by Jai, Veeru and cinema's most iconic villain, Gabbar Singh — set a template Bollywood is still riffing on fifty years later.

5. Deewaar (1975) — This is the film that turned Amitabh Bachchan into the "angry young man," giving Hindi cinema a new kind of hero — morally conflicted, working-class, furious at a system stacked against him.

6. Anand (1971) — Rajesh Khanna's performance as a terminally ill man who refuses to let his diagnosis define him remains one of the most quietly devastating roles in Bollywood history, built on a philosophy the film never lets you forget: life measured in depth, not length.

7. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) — Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol didn't just headline a hit romance — they reset what on-screen chemistry looked like for a generation, blending tradition and modern longing in a way audiences are still returning to.

8. Lagaan (2001) — A village's cricket match against colonial officers doubles as a story about dignity, class and resistance, and became one of the rare Hindi films to earn a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nomination.

9. Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) — Anurag Kashyap's sprawling crime saga rewired what a Bollywood gangster film could be — brutal, funny, generational, and completely unconcerned with sanitising its violence for mainstream comfort.

10. Andhadhun (2018) — Proof the template can still be broken. Sriram Raghavan's morally slippery thriller became an instant modern classic for refusing to give audiences a clean, comfortable ending.

From a mother's sacrifice in 1957 to a piano player's moral ambiguity sixty years later, the throughline across all ten is the same: Hindi cinema's biggest legacies were built by films willing to take a real risk with the story they were telling.

Released in 2001, Lagaan remains one of the most influential films in the history of Indian cinema. As the Aamir Khan-starrer completed 25 years, filmmakers, actors, and cinema enthusiasts revisited the extraordinary journey of a project that overcame skepticism, financial uncertainty, and production challenges to become a cultural milestone. The film, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, not only emerged as a commercial and critical success but also secured a nomination at the Academy Awards, placing Indian cinema firmly on the international map.

To celebrate the milestone, a special screening of Lagaan was recently organized in Mumbai. Several members of the film fraternity, including Aamir Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker, Kareena Kapoor, Salman Khan, and veteran actor Rekha, attended the event. The gathering served as a nostalgic reunion and reflected the enduring legacy of a film that continues to resonate with audiences across generations.

At the heart of Lagaan was an unconventional story. Set in colonial India, the film revolved around villagers challenging British officers to a game of cricket to escape oppressive taxation. Reports suggest that when Gowariker first narrated the script to Aamir Khan, the actor rejected the idea within minutes. A period drama centered around cricket appeared too risky for mainstream audiences. However, a second narration changed his perspective, ultimately convincing him to take on both the lead role and the responsibility of producing the film.

A Risky Gamble

The project faced resistance even before production began. According to reports, Aamir Khan’s parents expressed concern after reading the script, fearing that the ambitious film could result in major financial losses. Industry insiders were equally doubtful. A nearly four-hour-long film featuring rural India, British characters, and a cricket match as its central conflict was considered commercially uncertain.

Despite these concerns, the makers remained committed to their vision. Aamir launched the project under Aamir Khan Productions, making it one of the earliest and most significant ventures of his production career. Managing both acting and production responsibilities added immense pressure throughout the filmmaking process.

Challenges Behind the Camera

Most of the film was shot in Bhuj, Gujarat, where cast and crew endured extreme weather conditions. Temperatures frequently crossed 40 degrees Celsius during outdoor shoots, particularly during the lengthy cricket sequences that became the film’s defining moments.

To create authenticity on screen, many cast members lived together during the shooting schedule. This helped build genuine camaraderie, making the village community portrayed in the film appear natural and believable. Actors also underwent extensive cricket training, often practicing long after shooting hours had ended.

The film featured an international cast as well. British actress Rachel Shelley, who portrayed Elizabeth Russell, learned her Hindi dialogues despite not speaking the language. Her dedication contributed significantly to the film’s authenticity and emotional depth.

The biggest achievement came when Lagaan was selected as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards and secured a nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Although it did not win, the nomination marked a historic moment for Indian cinema and expanded the film’s global reach.

The film also influenced lives beyond the screen. It was during the production of Lagaan that Aamir Khan first met filmmaker Kiran Rao, who was working as an assistant director. Their professional association later developed into a personal relationship that shaped both their lives and careers.

Twenty-five years later, Lagaan continues to be studied, celebrated, and admired. Its themes of resilience, unity, and courage remain relevant, while its cinematic achievements continue to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike. As Indian cinema evolves, Lagaan stands as a reminder that bold storytelling and conviction can overcome even the greatest doubts.