Mahabharat actor Praveen Kumar Sobti, who played Bheem onscreen, dies

He was 74.

Reacting to his death, Border Security Force tweeted: "Director General & All Ranks of BSF condole the untimely demise of Sh Praveen Kumar Sobti, former Deputy Commandant, Arjuna Awardee, two-time Olympian (1968 Mexico Games and 1972 Munich Games) & four-time Asian Games medallist (2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze)."

Sobti was an Indian hammer and discus thrower, film actor, politician, and soldier with Border Security Force.

As a 20 year old he joined then newly raised Border Security Force from where he attracted the attention of his officers through his fine athletic skills and went to represent India at various athletic events in "Discus throw".

As an athlete he won four medals at the Asian Games, including two gold medals, won a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games and competed in two Olympics.

As an actor, he starred in more than 50 Hindi films and played the famous character of "Bheem" in B.R. Chopra's television series Mahabharat that started in 1988.

As a politician he contested the 2013 Delhi Legislative elections on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket, but lost.

Subsequently, in 2014, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.