Ghajini Villain Pradeep Rawat Passes Away; Ollywood Remembers ACP Ranveer Star
Played the menacing Salim Langda opposite Anubhav Mohanty in the Odia action blockbuster ACP Ranveer.
Bhubaneswar: Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, whose towering screen presence and powerful portrayals of villains made him one of Indian cinema’s most recognisable character actors, passed away at the age of 74 after a prolonged battle with blood cancer.
His death has evoked grief not only in Bollywood but also in Odisha, where he left a lasting impression through his memorable role in the Odia action film ACP Ranveer.
While audiences across the country remember Rawat for his iconic performances as Deva Singh Sodhi in Lagaan, the ruthless Ghajini Dharmatma in both the Tamil and Hindi versions of Ghajini, and Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra’s television epic Mahabharat, Odia movie lovers fondly recall him as the menacing Salim Langda in the 2012 blockbuster ACP Ranveer.
Starring Anubhav Mohanty in the title role, ACP Ranveer marked Rawat’s entry into Ollywood. His intense performance as the film’s principal antagonist added a pan-Indian appeal to the cop drama and was widely appreciated by audiences. At a time when Odia cinema was increasingly casting nationally recognised actors, Rawat’s inclusion brought added star power and helped elevate the film’s scale.
According to his manager, Rawat had overcome cancer several years ago, but the disease relapsed about six weeks ago. He had been undergoing treatment in hospital before passing away on August 4. His final rites were held on Wednesday in the presence of family members and several personalities from the Indian film industry, including actor Aamir Khan.
With a career spanning more than four decades, Pradeep Rawat worked across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Bhojpuri and Odia cinema, earning acclaim for his commanding screen presence and unforgettable negative roles. Though his association with Odia films was brief, ACP Ranveer ensured that he carved a special place in the hearts of Ollywood audiences. His passing marks the end of an era for one of Indian cinema’s most formidable on-screen villains.