Son recounts Pradeep Rawat's final hours and battle with rare blood cancer

Vikramaditya Rawat broke down while recalling the final hours of his father, veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, after the cremation ceremony at Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbai. Initially, doctors suspected a simple stomach infection, but a blood test showed an extremely high white-cell count, leading to a rapid diagnosis of a rare, aggressive blood cancer at Kokilaben Hospital. The family learned of the disease just weeks after routine tests had been normal.

Rawat received CPR in the ICU, a moment his son described as the point when he truly understood the severity of the situation. The actor died on August 4 at 74, and his last rites were attended by many members of the film fraternity, including Aamir Khan and the Lagaan cast. Rawat was remembered for iconic roles in films such as Ghajini, Lagaan and the TV series Mahabharat.