Veteran Kannada Actor Harish Rai Passes Away: KGF’s ‘Chacha’ Dies After Battle With Thyroid Cancer, DK Shivakumar Pays Tribute

Veteran Kannada actor Harish Rai, widely recognised for his memorable performances in films such as Om and K.G.F: Chapter 1, bid farewell on Thursday (6 November 2025). He passed away at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru, where he had been undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer. 

Reports indicate that Rai’s illness had metastasised to his stomach, leaving him extremely weak. He is survived by his wife and two sons. 

He earned a special place in the hearts of audiences as “Don Rai” in Om and as “Chacha” in the K.G.F. series. In a public tribute on X (formerly Twitter), Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar described Rai’s death as “an extremely sorrowful event”, noting that the film industry has grown poorer with his passing. He added:

“The film industry has become poorer with the death of Harish Roy, who was suffering from cancer… 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. Om Shanti.” 

Earlier, a social media influencer visited Rai and shared footage of him appealing publicly for financial assistance. In the video, he expressed a desire to return to acting if his health improved, and revealed the high cost of his treatment, stating one injection alone cost ₹3.55 lakh. Each treatment cycle required three such injections over 63 days, totalling approximately ₹10.5 lakh per cycle — with some patients needing 17–20 injections, bringing potential treatment costs to around ₹70 lakh. 

Rai’s career spanned Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films. Among his notable works were Om, Samara, Bangalore Underworld, Jodi Hakki, Raj Bahadur, Sanju Weds Geetha, Swayamvara, Nalla, and both parts of the K.G.F. series. 

His passing marks the loss of a respected actor whose on-screen presence and off-screen struggles both reflected the realities of the film industry.

Image Source- Google