Actor Pankaj Dheer, popularly known for playing the role of Karna in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, passed away on October 15. He had been battling cancer. While many know Dheer for his powerful performance in Mahabharat and other films and TV shows, his close friend and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit remembers him for his strong and dominating personality. “We lost a very good human being. A big loss to the industry,” said the filmmaker, speaking to mid-day.
Ashoke Pandit says Pankaj Dheer had a towering personality
Ashoke Pandit last spoke to Pankaj Dheer over a call about two and a half months ago. “I don’t think he knew that I was aware he was battling cancer. I never spoke to him about his diagnosis, and he would happily interact about other topics,” recalled Pandit about his last conversation with Dheer. The filmmaker last met him about four months ago when he attended a play Dheer was part of.
Dheer and Pandit’s friendship goes back years, when both were part of the Indian TV industry. “He was very well-educated and had knowledge of a range of topics. We had discussions on issues like human rights, environmental concerns, and the challenges of the television industry—such as hectic shoots, the demanding nature of the medium, and how working conditions could be improved,” shared the filmmaker, recalling him as a good human being who was “cultured, dignified, and soft-spoken.”
Pandit added that while people largely remember Dheer for his role in Mahabharat, his contribution to Indian television and cinema has been immense. Off-screen, Pandit remembered him as a great human being with a towering yet warm personality. “He was always smiling and laughing whenever you met him. I never saw him sad or depressed about anything,” recalled Pandit, speaking fondly of his dear friend.
Pankaj Dheer`s journey in the film industry
Pankaj was a popular face in Hindi TV and in films. He rose to popularity with his role of Karna in BR Chopra`s acclaimed TV show Mahabharat which went on air in the late 1980s. Such was the popularity of the show and his character that his face was used as a reference for Karna in school textbooks. Not just that, but his statues were installed for worship in temples of Karnal and Bastar.
He has also acted in several films, including Sanam Bewafa, Baadshah, Saugandh, and TV shows like Chandrakanta and Sasural Simar Ka. He appeared at the lead in debut episode Dastak, TV series, Zee Horror Show (1993), along with Archana Puran Singh. He also played the lead as a defence lawyer in the TV Series Kanoon, a series based on court-room dramas.
Dheer also worked as a director and helmed a film titled My Father Godfather. He founded the Abhinay Acting Academy with actor Gufi Paintal as the head of faculty in the year 2010. Before that, he had established a shooting studio, Visage Studioz along with his brother Satluj Dheer at Jogeshwari, Mumbai.