NEW DELHI: Actor Praveen Kumar Sobti, who gained fame as Bheem in the historic BR Chopra’s Mahabharat television series, died Monday night at his Delhi residence.
The actor died after suffering a heart attack. “He had chronic chest pain. At night, when he started to feel unwell, we called a doctor at home. He passed away between 10 and 10.30pm following a heart attack,” Praveen’s relative told PTI. According to ANI, he will be cremated at the crematorium in Punjabi Bagh today.
Starting out as a discus thrower and hammer thrower, Praveen Kumar Sobti represented India internationally at venues such as the Olympics, the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. He won gold medals at the discus throw in 1966 and 1970 Asian Games, as well as a silver medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games. For her athletic achievement, he won the Arjuna Award. He has also served as Deputy Commander of the Border Forces (BSF).
After retiring from active sports in his 30s, he turned to acting in a negative role in Jeetendra-starrer Raksha (1982). Over the next ten years, he starred in several films, most notably Loha, Ajooba, and Shahenshah. His 6 foot 8 inch tall figure and wide frame meant that he probably always played the villain of the villain. But on television where he gained fame. In 1988, he played the role of Bheem in BR Chopra’s legendary drama Mahabharat because of his height and body. The role made him famous throughout the country.
Praveen continued to star in films and TV shows in the 90s and, among other things, played Sabu in the 2002 TV series Chacha Chaudhary, starring Raghubir Yadav in the title role. He also played his role as Bheem in the 2013 film Mahabharat Aur Barbareek. It was his last role play.
Praveen entered politics, joining the Aam Aadmi Party in 2013. He ran for the Delhi Legislative Assembly that year from the Wazirpur region but was defeated. He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.