Pradeep Rawat Family: Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, who made a household name with his powerful portrayal of Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra’s popular TV show “Mahabharata,” passed away on August 4th at the age of 74. He had been battling blood cancer for some time and had been hospitalized for nearly a month receiving treatment. News of his passing sent shockwaves through the film and TV industries. His fans, co-stars, and family are in deep shock.
Pradeep Rawat played many memorable roles in TV, Bollywood, and South Indian cinema during his long acting career. While he distinguished himself on screen with his villainous and powerful characters, he also experienced many ups and downs in his personal life. His marriage, family life, and struggles were also widely discussed.
The actor wanted to join the army
Pradeep Rawat was born in Ambala, Haryana. His father served in the Indian Army, and since childhood, he had a dream of serving the country by joining the army. He tried several times to join the army, but was unsuccessful. He then completed his studies and, after graduating, took a job at a bank in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. However, his passion for acting led him to theater. He joined actor Raj Babbar’s renowned theater group, “Ekjut Theatre,” and this is where his acting journey took a new direction.
This is how he got the role of Ashwatthama in ‘Mahabharata’
It was during his theater days that Pradeep Rawat was noticed by a close friend of Raj Babbar. He advised him to audition for the role of Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra’s popular show “Mahabharata.” Pradeep auditioned and was selected. This role proved to be a turning point in his career. After the release of “Mahabharata,” he gained recognition nationwide. His powerful screen presence and performance as Ashwatthama are still remembered by audiences.
Left a distinct identity in films too
After finding success in television, Pradeep Rawat turned to films. He worked in Bollywood, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam films. With his deep voice, strong personality, and powerful acting, he was often seen in villainous and powerful supporting roles. He shared the screen with many big stars and established a special place in the South Indian film industry. His acting skills earned him recognition as one of the industry’s most reliable character actors.
The first marriage did not last long
Pradeep Rawat’s personal life has been fraught with ups and downs. He revealed in an interview that his first marriage lasted only five and a half months. However, his first wife’s name has never been publicly disclosed. He stated that his wife was pregnant during their marriage, but the relationship became increasingly strained. Later, his wife filed a police complaint against him and his family.
A big disclosure was made regarding the 498-A case.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Pradeep Rawat spoke openly about his first marriage and divorce. He said, “We divorced after five and a half months. She was pregnant with my child. She filed a police complaint against me and my family. At that time, 498-A cases were widely discussed. I was accused of assaulting her after drinking alcohol. But the case was resolved within about a month. Later, she admitted to our lawyer that the allegations were not true, and the divorce process was completed.”
#WATCH | Actor #PradeepRawat Of Lagaan & Ghajini Fame Speaks About His False #498A Case By First Wife#VoiceForMen
(full video in thread below)VC: Siddharth Kannan YouTube https://t.co/xb8Zv1YYGHpic.twitter.com/J6HINwaFo5
— Voice For Men India (@voiceformenind) May 20, 2024
Got the support of life partner in second marriage
After the breakdown of his first marriage, Pradeep Rawat’s life included Kalyani Rawat. Kalyani, who has been associated with the South Indian film industry, has always avoided the limelight, rarely appearing at public events. The two met on the sets of the Telugu film “Stalin.” Pradeep Rawat revealed in an interview that he had fallen in love with Kalyani upon first meeting her, but she didn’t pay much attention to him at the time.
The love story began with a car breakdown.
Pradeep Rawat recounted that one day, during filming, Kalyani’s car broke down. Her manager asked Pradeep if any of the actors could accompany her. Pradeep agreed, and coincidentally, that actor was Kalyani herself. They struck up a conversation on the way and shared their phone numbers. This led to a series of meetings. After dating for a few months, they married in 2006.
Who all are there in the family?
Pradeep Rawat is survived by his wife Kalyani Rawat and their son, Vikramaditya Rawat. The actor affectionately called his son Vikram. However, there is little public information available regarding whether Vikramaditya Rawat is involved in the film industry or works in any other field. Kalyani Rawat also maintains a distance from the media and social media. She has always preferred to keep her family private.