Insight Bureau:  Actor cum athlete Praveen Kumar Sobti, best known for playing Bheem in the TV series ‘Mahabharat’ and for winning an Asian Games gold medal, breathed his last following a cardiac arrest late Monday (February 7) evening. He was 74 at the time of his demise.

The actor breathed his last at his Ashok Vihar residence. “He had a chronic chest infection problem. At night, when he started feeling uneasy, we called the doctor at home. He passed away between 10-10.30 PM following a cardiac arrest,” a relative of Praveen told the media.

Praveen represented the country across various athletic events in hammer and discus throw and even won four medals at the Asian Games, including two gold medals in 1966 and 1970. He also won a silver medal in Hammer Throw during the 1966 Commonwealth Games. He had even participated in Olympics Games twice.

The athlete gained further popularity after he began his acting career and featured as Bheem in BR Chopra’s classic ‘Mahabharat’ in 1988.

He is survived by wife, daughter, two younger brothers and a sister.