Praveen Kumar Sobti aka Mahabharat’s Bheem passes away

Praveen Kumar Sobti who played the role of Bheem in BR Chopra’s show Mahabharat passed away on Monday mid-night. He had just turned 74, in December last year. The actor reportedly suffered a heart attack. He passed away at his home in Delhi.

Hailing from Punjab, the actor became a household name after playing the role of Bheem in the mythological series and was known for his huge build. Besides being an actor, he was also an athlete and had been a top player in the hammer and disc throw. He was a medalist in the Asian and Commonwealth Games and even participated in the Olympics.

Also Read: RIP Lata Mangeshkar: Madhuri Dixit pens heartfelt note for the nightingale

Praveen's sports credentials helped him get the job of Deputy Commandant with the Border Security Force (BSF). His career in track and field ended in the late 1970s, and Praveen switched to a career in showbusiness.

In Bollywood, his most memorable role was as Mukhtaar Singh in Amitabh Bachchan’s cult classic movie Shahenshah. Some of his films include Karishma Kudrat Kaa, Yudh, Zabardast, Singhasan, Khudgarz, Loha, Mohabbat Ke Dushman, Ilaaka and others. His last film was ‘Mahabharat Aur Barbarik,’ which was released in 2013. In the film, he essayed the character of Bhima here as well.

(With inputs from ANI)