Kannada cinema’s renowned actor Harish Rai has passed away at the age of 55, following a year-long struggle with thyroid cancer. Rai was celebrated for his powerful performances, most notably his role as Khasim in the critically acclaimed ‘KGF’ films, starring Yash. He was also a familiar face in other prominent movies like ‘Om’ and ‘Hello Yama’, and had a significant career across Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu cinema.
Rai’s health battle became public knowledge when he revealed that he had purposefully grown a beard for his role in ‘KGF’ to hide the visible effects of his throat cancer. The financial implications of his treatment were also a significant concern for the actor, who shared that a single injection cost him upwards of ₹3.55 lakh, with multiple injections needed for each treatment cycle. This candid disclosure shed light on the immense costs associated with fighting advanced cancer.
During his illness, Rai demonstrated remarkable strength and gratitude. He spoke about the support he had received previously from Yash, the lead actor in ‘KGF’, while also indicating that he had not approached him for help recently, wanting to avoid over-reliance. Rai had a prolific career, appearing in films such as ‘Samara’, ‘Bangalore Underworld’, ‘Jodihakki’, and ‘Sanju Weds Geetha’. His passing marks a somber moment for the South Indian film fraternity.