Pradeep Rawat death: Salman Khan shares throwback picture from Baaghi, remembers late co-star

Pradeep Rawat and Salman Khan. Pics via X and Instagram

Actor Salman Khan paid tribute to veteran actor Pradeep Rawat following his demise at the age of 74. Rawat, known for memorable performances in films such as Lagaan, Ghajini and Sarfarosh, passed away on Tuesday evening after a prolonged battle with blood cancer. As the film fraternity gathered to bid him a final farewell, Salman remembered his late co-star with an emotional message on social media.

Salman Khan's shares throwback

Taking to his Instagram Stories, Salman shared a throwback picture with Pradeep Rawat from their younger days and expressed his grief over the actor's passing.

"Shared many good moments with you brother.. May you rest in peace," Salman wrote.

The two actors had shared screen space in several films during the early years of their careers, including Baaghi (1990), Patthar Ke Phool (1991) and Sangdil Sanam (1994). Salman's tribute struck an emotional chord with fans, many of whom remembered the duo's on-screen collaborations and Rawat's impactful performances over the decades.

Industry pays tribute

Pradeep Rawat's last rites were held on Wednesday, August 5, in Mumbai, with several members of the film fraternity arriving to pay their final respects. Among those present were his Lagaan and Ghajini co-star Aamir Khan, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, Ashoke Pandit, actors Akhilendra Mishra, Raj Arjun, Karan V Grover, Surendra Pal and Ruhanika Dhawan.

Earlier, actor Yashpal Sharma had also mourned Rawat's demise, remembering him as "our Ghajini, Deva of Lagaan" in a social media post.

Pradeep Rawat had been battling blood cancer for nearly five years. While he had briefly recovered, the illness relapsed a few months ago, and he had been hospitalised for the last couple of months before his condition deteriorated.

Born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Rawat carved a remarkable career spanning over four decades across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and several other film industries. He first gained widespread recognition as Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra's iconic television series Mahabharat before going on to deliver memorable performances in films such as Sarfarosh, Lagaan, Ghajini and numerous South Indian blockbusters.

He is survived by his wife Kalyani Rawat and son Vikramaditya, both broke down in tears at the last rites. With tributes continuing to pour in from colleagues and fans alike, Pradeep Rawat leaves behind a rich cinematic legacy that will be remembered for years to come.