Harish Rai

**Harish Rai** (credited occasionally as **Harish Roy**; 1970 – 6 November 2025) was a veteran Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema, alongside appearances in Tamil and Telugu films. With a career spanning over three decades and featuring in more than 100 films, he was widely recognized for his imposing screen presence, distinct voice, and commanding portrayals of antagonists, henchmen, and character roles.

Born and raised in Karnataka, Harish developed a keen interest in cinema early on and entered the industry during the early 1990s. He made significant inroads into Sandalwood with supporting and negative roles in cult classic action films. He gained notable early attention for his appearance in Upendra's pathbreaking gangster drama *Om* (1995), followed by films like *Samara* (1995) and *Operation Antha* (1995).