‘KGF’ and ‘Om’ actor Harish Rai passes away at 55 after long battle with cancer; Karnataka Deputy CM pays tribute

The Kannada film world is mourning the loss of one of its most respected actors. Veteran star Harish Rai, best known for his roles in ‘Om’ and the ‘KGF’ series, passed away on Thursday after battling cancer.

The 55-year-old actor left behind a rich legacy of performances that touched audiences across South Indian cinema.

Harish Rai remembered for his remarkable journey

Rai was a familiar face in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu films. With decades of experience, he built a reputation for portraying intense and emotional characters.He became well known face after playing Don Rai in ‘Om’, a film that remains a cult classic in Kannada cinema. Years later, he gained renewed fame for his heartfelt portrayal of Chacha in ‘KGF’ and ‘KGF 2’, where audiences once again praised his screen presence and emotional depth.

Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar expresses his condolences

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the heartbreaking news of Rai’s passing and offer his tribute. Writing in Kannada, he praised the late actor’s contribution to cinema and expressed his deep sorrow.“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 the death of Harish Roy, who was suffering from cancer.

In films including Om, Hello Yama, as well as KGF and KGF 2, Harish Roy had acted wonderfully and attracted everyone's attention,” he wrote.

“I pray that his soul attains peace and that God grants strength to his family and loved ones, who are in pain from his departure, to bear the sorrow. Om Shanti,” he added.

Actor’s cancer battle and financial struggles

As reported by Pinkvilla, Harish Rai had spoken openly about his health challenges and the financial strain of his treatment.

The actor revealed that a single injection cost Rs 3.55 lakh and that doctors prescribed three injections per cycle over 63 days, totalling Rs 10.5 lakh per cycle. He also explained that patients often required 17 to 20 injections, pushing the overall cost of treatment to around Rs 70 lakh. Despite the difficulties, Rai continued to show remarkable strength and optimism.

Harish Rai appreciated Yash’s constant support

In one of his past public appearances, Harish Rai spoke to social media influencer Gopi Gowdru about his health and his dream of returning to acting once he recovered.

During this emotional conversation, he also spoke warmly about ‘KGF’ star Yash, who had supported him in the past.“Yash has helped me before. I cannot keep asking him every time. How much can one person do? I haven’t informed him about my health, but I know if he comes to know, he will definitely stand by me. He is just one call away, though he is busy with his upcoming film Toxic. I’ve told my family and sons to reach out to him if anything happens to me, because I know he won’t turn away,” Rai had said.

Harish Rai’s film career

Throughout his career, Harish Rai appeared in several successful films that showcased his talent and range. Some of his popular titles include ‘Samara’, ‘Bangalore Underworld’, ‘Jodihakki’, ‘Raj Bahadur’, ‘Sanju Weds Geetha’, ‘Swayamvara’, and ‘Nalla’