Veteran Kannada actor Harish Rai, best known for his roles in films like Om and KGF, has died after his long battle with cancer. The a tor breathed his last on Thursday, November 6. He was reportedly undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer at Kidwai Hospital in Bengaluru. The KGF actor is survived by his wife and two sons.
Harish Rai dies of cancer
Harish Rai is fondly remembered for his role as Don Rai in Om and Chacha in Yash-starrer KGF. According to media reports, the cancer had spread to his stomach, making his body weak and thin in his final days. The Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, paid his tribute by sharing a photo of Rai on X and posting a heartfelt note.
“The passing away of Harish Roy, 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. 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 wrote.
Harish Rai was struggling financially to meet treatment costs
Previously, social media influencer Gopi Gowdru had visited the actor and shared a video of him asking for financial help. In the video, Rai was seen saying that he wishes to return to acting if his health improves. He also revealed the high cost of his treatment. According to a One India report, he shared that a single injection cost Rs 3.55 lakh. Meanwhile, each cycle required three injections over 63 days, totalling Rs 10.5 lakh per cycle. Notably, some patients needed 17 to 20 injections, which took the overall treatment to around Rs 70 lakh.
Rai had also spoken about KGF star Yash extending support, clarifying that he had not approached him directly. He shared, “Yash has helped me before. I cannot keep asking him every time. 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.”
Harish Rai has acted in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu films over his career. His best works include Om, Samara, Bangalore Underworld, Jodihakki, Raj Bahadur, Sanju Weds Geetha, Swayamvara, Nalla, and both parts of the KGF series.