Veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, best known for his iconic portrayal of Karan in B.R. Chopra’s epic television series Mahabharat, passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. He had been undergoing treatment for the past few years.
Born in Punjab, Pankaj Dheer hailed from a film background — his father, C.L. Dheer, was a noted film director.
Dheer made his Bollywood debut with Poonam (1981), co-starring Raj Babbar and Poonam Dhillon. He later appeared in a lead role opposite Rati Agnihotri in Mera Suhaag, a home production. However, delays in the film’s release impacted its success, and by the time it hit theatres, Agnihotri had already stepped away from films.
Disappointed with the outcome, Dheer turned to television — a move that changed his career trajectory. His portrayal of Karan in Mahabharat earned him nationwide recognition and made him a household name. The success also opened the doors to numerous film offers.
He went on to feature in several Hindi films such as Sanam Bewafa, Saugandh, Mr Bond, Heer Ranjha, Ikke Pe Ikka (which he also produced, sharing the lead with Akshay Kumar), Ashaant, Baadshah, and Andaz. Alongside films, Dheer remained active on television, appearing in series like Yug, Kamini Damini, and most recently Ajooni (2022–23).
While Hindi television brought him fame, it was Punjabi cinema that cemented his popularity in Punjab. After a successful debut in Taakre Jattan De, he starred in films such as Zid Jattan Di, Dushmani Jattan Di, Qahar, Sarbans Dani Guru Gobind Singh, Sardari, and Muqaddar — the latter being his own production and directorial venture. However, its poor box-office performance prompted him to refocus on Hindi films.
With the revival of Punjabi cinema, Dheer later returned to the industry with films like Choodiyan and Kaptaan. In recent years, he had reduced his workload due to health concerns.
Pankaj Dheer is survived by his wife and son, actor Nikitin Dheer. The veteran actor reportedly expressed happiness at witnessing his son make his Punjabi film debut with Akaal earlier this year.
