On August 5, Mumbai played host to the funeral of veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, who passed away on August 4 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Aamir Khan, Rawat’s co-star in several films, including Ghajini, Sarfarosh, and Lagaan, attended the funeral to pay his respects. Khan recalled Rawat as a fearless and dedicated performer, stating that his portrayal of the main antagonist in Ghajini was pivotal to the film’s success. Khan shared his thoughts with Variety India, saying, “He was extremely dedicated and fearless as an actor. Pradeepji 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.” Salman Khan also paid tribute to Rawat, sharing a throwback picture and saying, “Shared many good moments with you brother… May you rest in peace.” Notably, Rawat had recommended Aamir Khan over Salman Khan for the Hindi version of Ghajini. In a 2024 interview, Rawat revealed that he played a crucial role in convincing Aamir Khan to star in the film. Director A.R. Murugadoss had approached Rawat for help in remaking the Tamil original in Hindi, and Rawat thought Aamir Khan would be a better fit for the lead role. With a career spanning several decades, Pradeep Rawat leaves behind a legacy in the film industry.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Bollywood Life