Who was Pankaj Dheer? Temples have been built in his name, and fans worship him; he acted in these films and serials.

Posted on 15th Oct 2025 by rohit kumar

Actor Pankaj Dheer, who played Karna in the serial "Mahabharata," has passed away. He was 68 years old. He is known for his roles in serials like "Mahabharata," "Chandrakanta," "The Great Maratha," "Yug," and "Badho Bahu." In addition to serials, he also acted in films. He played small roles in several Hindi films, including "Sadak," "Soldier," and "Baadshah."

 

 

Pankaj Dheer's TV Work

Pankaj Dheer rose to fame in 1988 with his role as Karna in "Mahabharata." His image was used in textbooks, and temples were built in reference to Karna. He appeared in the lead role in the first episode of the horror show "Dastak" (1993) alongside Archana Puran Singh. He also played a lawyer in the courtroom drama TV show "Kanoon."

 

 

Opened an Acting Academy with a Friend

In 2006, Dheer, along with his brother Satluj Dheer, founded Visage Studios, a shooting studio in Jogeshwari, Mumbai. In 2010, they opened the Abhinay Acting Academy in Mumbai. Its faculty head was actor Gufi Paintal. Pankaj directed the film "My Father Godfather," released in 2014.

 

 

Temples at These Places

Pankaj Dheer gained immense popularity after playing the role of Karna in "Mahabharata." His fans loved him so much that they built two temples for him. His idol is installed and worshipped there. Pankaj Dheer once said, "I have two temples where worship is performed daily. I have visited them. One is in Karnal and the other is in Bastar. There is an eight-foot-tall idol of mine there. People come and worship there. When I go there, people love me wholeheartedly. This shows that they have accepted me as Karna." It becomes very difficult for others to reprise that role.

 

 

Pankaj's Family

Pankaj Dheer has a son, Nikitin Dheer, who is also an actor. Nikitin is married to Kratika Senger. Nikitin Dheer has made a name for himself in Bollywood with his roles in films like "Chennai Express" and "Shershaah."

Other news