Kannada Actor Harish Rai Passes Away After Battling Cancer
- Popular Kannada actor dies on November 6 after battling thyroid cancer that spread to his stomach.
- Known for iconic performances in Om, KGF, KGF 2, and other Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu films.
- Actor revealed medical treatment cost reached over Rs 10 lakh per cycle, highlighting his prolonged struggle.
Popular Kannada actor Harish Rai passed away on November 6, following a prolonged battle with cancer. He died at a hospital in Bangalore, leaving the film industry and fans deeply saddened.
The tragic news was shared by DK Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He wrote, “The passing away of Harish Rai, the renowned villain actor of Kannada cinema, is an extremely sorrowful event. The film industry has become poorer with his death.” He added, “In films including Om, Hello Yama, as well as KGF and KGF 2, Harish Rai acted wonderfully and attracted everyone's attention. I pray that his soul attains peace and that God grants strength to his family and loved ones to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti”.
Harish Rai was fondly remembered for his iconic roles, including Don Rai in the cult classic Om and Chacha in KGF. The actor had been battling thyroid cancer that had spread to his stomach. A few months ago, he spoke to the media about his condition, revealing the high cost of his treatment. He shared that a single injection had cost Rs 3.55 lakh, with three injections per cycle over 63 days, totaling around Rs 10.5 lakh per cycle.
Over his long career, Harish Rai worked across Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu cinema. His memorable films include Om, Samara, Jodihakki, Raj Bahadur, Sanu Wedds Geetha, Swayamvara, Nalla, and both chapters of the blockbuster KGF.
The actor’s passing leaves a significant void in the South Indian film industry, but his memorable performances continue to inspire and entertain fans across generations.
