Actor Harish Rai, popularly known as ‘KGF Chacha’, passes away due to cancer

BENGALURU: Veteran Kannada actor Harish Rai, best known for his performances in films like ‘Om’ and the ‘KGF’ series, has passed away around 11 am on Thursday after battling cancer and was undergoing treatment at Kidwai Hospital.

He is survived by his wife and two children. He had been acting for over two decades. After KGF, he was popularly known as KGF Chacha.

The actor was a respected name in South Indian cinema, having acted in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu films over several decades.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar took to his X account to confirm the news and express his condolences. Sharing the sad news, Shivakumar wrote that the industry has lost one of its finest actors.

“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 in Kannada.

“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.

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಖ್ಯಾತ ಖಳನಟರಾದ ಹರೀಶ್‌ ರಾಯ್‌ ಅವರು ನಿಧನರಾಗಿರುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ದುಃಖಕರ ಸಂಗತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್‌ನಿಂದ ಬಳಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಹರೀಶ್ ರಾಯ್ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದಿಂದ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗ ಬಡವಾಗಿದೆ.

ಓಂ, ಹಲೋಯಮ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಕೆಜಿಎಫ್ ಮತ್ತು ಕೆಜಿಎಫ್ 2 ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹರೀಶ್ ರಾಯ್ ಅವರು ಅದ್ಭುತವಾಗಿ ನಟಿಸಿ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಗಮನಸೆಳೆದಿದ್ದರು. ಹರೀಶ್… pic.twitter.com/Q86Ot36Nub

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) November 6, 2025

Throughout his career, Rai appeared in several popular films such as ‘Samara,’ ‘Bangalore Underworld,’ ‘Jodihakki,’ ‘Raj Bahadur,’ ‘Sanju Weds Geetha,’ ‘Swayamvara,’ and ‘Nalla.’ However, his roles in ‘Om’ and the ‘KGF’ franchise brought him wide recognition and love from fans. (ANI)