Emotional Aamir remembers co-star Pradeep Rawat, says he made Ghajini unforgettable

Actor Aamir Khan remembered his co-star Pradeep Rawat, who died on August 4 at the age of 74 after battling blood cancer. As tributes poured in from across the film industry, the superstar described his Lagaan and Ghajini co-star as a fearless performer whose work left a lasting impact on Indian cinema.Speaking to Variety India, Khan paid tribute to Rawat's portrayal of the menacing Ghajini, calling it one of the most memorable villain performances on screen. "He was extremely dedicated and fearless as an actor. Pradeep ji played the title role in Ghajini. I think this was one of the most striking screen villains in our cinema. The film wouldn't have worked without him," he said.The actor also reflected on Rawat's performance as Deva Singh Sodhi in Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan. "He brought his own flavour to Deva Singh Sodhi. I don't think anyone could have played Sodhi with such swag. He was a versatile actor. It's sad to hear of his passing," he added.Rawat died at a hospital in Bhiwandi following a relapse after battling blood cancer. He had reportedly been undergoing treatment for more than a month before his condition worsened. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Rawat built a reputation as one of Indian cinema's most recognisable character actors and villains. He first gained nationwide recognition for playing Ashwatthama in BR Chopra's television epic Mahabharat before making a successful transition to films.His career took a significant turn in Telugu cinema with SS Rajamouli's Sye (2004), where his performance as the antagonist earned widespread acclaim. He went on to become a familiar face in Telugu and Tamil cinema with films such as Stalin, 1: Nenokkadine, Sarrainodu and Nene Raju Nene Mantri. One of his rare distinctions was portraying the primary antagonist in both versions of Ghajini - the 2005 Tamil original starring Suriya and the 2008 Hindi remake headlined by Aamir Khan.Apart from Hindi, Telugu and Tamil films, Rawat also appeared in Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Bhojpuri and Nepali cinema. His filmography included Sarfarosh, The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, Rowdy Rathore, Veeram, Market Raja MBBS, Singh Is Bliing, Gulu Gulu and Chhaava.Rawat's final Hindi film appearance came in 2025 with Chhaava, in which he played Yesaji Kank. His last screen appearance was in the Telugu film Gaayapadda Simham, released earlier this year, where he portrayed Bhikshu Das. With a career that stretched across television and multiple film industries, he leaves behind a body of work that made him one of Indian cinema's most enduring screen villains.- EndsPublished By: T Naga Maruthi AcharyaPublished On: Aug 5, 2026 17:30 IST