Pankaj Dheer Passes Away at 68, A Farewell to Television’s Beloved Karna

There are some faces that never really leave us, and one of them is Pankaj Dheer.

On October 15, 2025, the veteran actor, Pankaj Dheer, famous for his role as Karna from B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat, passed on at age 68 after battling with cancer for years.

According to a news report, he’d been in and out of treatment for months, fighting for his life. After a while, he was completely okay until he had a relapse that led to his death.

His long-time friend, who had known Dheer for three decades and was also a colleague, Actor Amit Behl, confirmed the news of Dheer’s passing to India Today. Behl, who had known Dheer for over three decades, expressed his grief, stating, “He was ailing about three years ago, but he had recovered. He was back to work. I spoke to him about four months ago, and he was sounding fine. But this is shocking, really shocking for all of us. He was ailing, but he had recovered, lost weight, and was working, you know, in a serial or something else.”.

When the news broke that morning, it hit differently. Because for so many of us, Pankaj Dheer wasn’t just another actor; he was part of television history.

The Man Who Made Karna Human

In the late ’80s, Sunday mornings were never complete without everyone in front of the screen watching Mahabharat. And that is for one thing, to see the hero who played the role so well that many believed him.

It’s funny how one role can define a lifetime. Even decades later, his powerful performance was never forgotten and in some parts of India, his image as Karna was used in textbooks. In some towns, statues were even modeled after his likeness. A man playing the role of a legend later became one himself.

 Career 

But he did more than just that one role. He acted in more than 40 films, like Baadshah, Soldier, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, and in TV shows like Chandrakanta and Sasural Simar Ka. He acted as a lead actor in Dastak, Zee Horror Show, and a TV series. He was also the lead inthe TV series Kannon, where he played the role of a defense lawyer.

From Chandrakanta to Sasural Simar Ka, from Badho Bahu to Devon Ke Dev, Mahadev acted in different genres, played different roles. Truly a man with top talent, yet never chasing the spotlight but his impact is still being felt.

In 2006, he founded a shooting studio with his brother Satluj Dheer. The studio, Visage Studioz is located in Jogeshwari. Later on, he founded Abbhinnay, an acting academy that became a training ground for new talent. For him, teaching wasn’t a side project. It was a way to give back. To pass on to the other generation what life in front of the camera entails and the discipline, grit, and humility that come with it.

The Final Goodbye

The industry just lost a gem, and many expressed their sadness. Tributes flowed in at the funeral with many notable figures from all corners of the industry paying their respects.

Salman Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, and the co-stars of Mahabharat, Deep Dhillon, Surendra Pal, and Feroz Khan, attended his funeral at Pawanhans Crematorium in Vile Parle. President of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), BN Tiwari, and Honorary Secretary of CINTAA, Sushant Singh, also paid their respects.

Veteran actress Hema Malini, devastated to lose a dear friend, shares an emotional post on X accompanied by throwback pictures. “I have lost a very dear friend today and am totally devastated. Pankaj Dheer, always so affectionate, enthusiastic about everything, a talented actor who won audience hearts with his portrayal of Karna in Mahabharat, so full of life, has breathed his last. He passed away after a spunky fight with cancer, which he was determined to overcome,” she wrote.

His son, actor Nikitin Dheer, known for films like Chennai Express and Shershaah, shared an heartfelt message:

“Whatever comes, let it come. Whatever stays, let it stay. Whatever goes, let it go. As a Shiva Bhakt, say ‘Shivarpanam’ and move on … He’ll take care! — but very hard to do.”

Nikitin acknowledged that it is hard to truly let go, leaving fans and followers in grief, as everyone bids goodbye. His son also followed in his footsteps as an actor, and he is married to Kratika Sengar.

A Man Beyond The Screen

Pankaj Dheer is survived by his wife, Anita Dheer; son, Nikitin Dheer; daughter-in-law, Kratika; and granddaughter, Devika.

For those of us who grew up watching Mahabharat, Karna goes beyond being a character in a movie; he was an icon, one that shook the industry. And maybe that’s why this loss hurts differently.