Pankaj Dheer, Indian television’s ‘Karna’, passes away at 68

Veteran television actor Pankaj Dheer, best known for his portrayal of Karna in BR Chopra’s rendition of the ‘90s hit series Mahabharat, passed away on October 15. He was reportedly battling cancer.

Apart from Mahabharat, the 68-year-old was also a mainstay in another TV hit, Chandrakanta. He appeared in several Bollywood films such as Bobby Deol-helmed Soldier and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Baadshah.

He is survived by his spouse Anita Dheer and son Nikitin Dheer, who is a movie-TV actor married to another TV celebrity, Kratika Sengar.

Karna and career

Dheer’s portrayal of Karna is often heralded as a defining moment in Indian TV history, with the actor prodding the audience to empathise with the complexity and moral dilemmas through his portrayal.

Growing up, many Mahabharat series fans say that Karna was among the beloved and respected figures in the TV series.

He also acted across genres, both in television and in Bollywood. Doing  Sadak and Soldier in the same entertainment era as Chandrakanta blurred the line between film and TV actors.

Dheer also founded Visage Studioz and co-founded Abbhinnay Acting Academy, nurturing upcoming acting talent.

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