05 August,2026 05:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Vikramaditya Rawat. Pics via Yogen Shah
Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat's son Vikramaditya was left inconsolable during the actor's last rites in Mumbai, as he remembered the heartbreaking final moments before his father's demise. The actor, best known for his roles in Lagaan, Ghajini and Mahabharat, passed away at the age of 74 on August 4.
The actor's last rites were held at the Oshiwara Crematorium on Wednesday, August 5. Speaking to the media at the funeral, his son Vikramaditya revealed that the family was left shocked by the sudden turn of events. He recalled that Pradeep Rawat's health had taken an unexpected downturn when his platelet count dropped drastically.
Sharing details of the emotional moment, Vikramaditya said, "Yesterday, it was unexplained. The platelets fell down to, I guess, 3,000. That's nothing. The data should be around 3 lakhs, 3 and a half lakhs."
He further recalled rushing towards the ICU when doctors were attending to the Ghajini actor. "We rushed outside the ICU. All the doctors were inside. I was allowed in. I tried opening the door, I opened it, and then they were giving him CPR. That's when I understood," he said.
Recalling his mother's reaction, Vikramaditya added, "Then my mom, she started crying. That's it. I'm sure he's in a better place."
He also expressed gratitude towards everyone who came to pay their last respects to the late actor, saying, "And he's happy that so many people showed up. I'm sure he's very happy. Thank you very much."
Pradeep Rawat's manager Siddharth Tiwari confirmed the news of his passing to mid-day.
The veteran actor had been battling cancer and had been hospitalised before his demise. He is survived by his wife and son Vikramaditya.
With a career spanning over three decades, Pradeep Rawat made his mark across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam cinema. He began his Bollywood journey with Meri Jung in 1985 and later became a familiar face with his portrayal of Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra's iconic television series Mahabharat.
The actor delivered memorable performances in films like Sarfarosh, where he played Sultan, Lagaan as Deva Singh Sodhi, and Ghajini as the feared antagonist Ghajini Dharmatma. His work across multiple industries earned him recognition as one of Indian cinema's most versatile character actors.
Several Bollywood celebrities and TV actors, along with his co-actors, paid homage and attended his last rites.
