Pankaj Dheer

Pankaj Dheer (9 November 1956 – 15 October 2025) was an Indian actor who appeared in Hindi films and television. He was known for his role of Karna in the television series Mahabharat and roles in Chandrakanta, The Great Maratha, Yug and Badho Bahu. He appeared in several Hindi films in small roles, including Sadak, Soldier, Baadshah and Taarzan: The Wonder Car.

Career Dheer began his on-screen career in the film Poonam in 1981, which did poorly at the box office. He then played roles in several small films, until he got his big break, appearing in B. R. Chopra's epic television series Mahabharat, as Karna. He was originally cast as Arjuna, but got the role of Karna due to his refusal to shave off his moustache.

The role of Karna was the highlight of Dheer's career and made him a household name in India. His pictures were used in textbooks as reference to Karna and his statues are worshipped as Karna in temples in Karnal and Bastar. He became a much sought-after actor for both television and movies after his success in Mahabharat. He also played the lead as a defence lawyer in the TV Series Kanoon, a series based on court-room dramas. He appeared as Hussain in the 1993 action film Pardesi. He starred as the lead character of King Shivdutt in fantasy TV series Chandrakanta in 1994. He collaborated with Vishnuvardhan and appeared as a supporting actor in Kannada movies such as Vishnu Vijaya, Appaji and Vishnu Sena.

In 2006 Dheer established a shooting studio, Visage Studioz along with his brother Satluj Dheer at Jogeshwari, Mumbai. In 2010, he opened Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai, with actor Gufi Paintal as the faculty head. He directed the romantic comedy-drama film My Father Godfather in 2014.

In 2011 he appeared in the Zee TV historical drama series Shobha Somnath Ki. Between 2012 and 2014, he played the recurring role of Maharaj Himavan in the Mythological TV series Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev. In 2015 he portrayed Anand Kapoor in the Sony TV soap opera Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane and appeared in the Zee TV drama series Doli Armaano Ki. In 2016 he appeared in Life OK drama TV series Rishton Ka Saudagar – Baazigar. He played the role of a wrestler, Ganga Singh Ahlawat, in romantic drama TV series Badho Bahu. He played the role of Barrister D'Costa in the ZEE5 crime thriller web series Poison in 2019, which was his last performance in a web series.

He played the double role of Ravindra Singh Bagga and Gyaneshwar Singh in drama TV series Ajooni in 2022–23. In his last television appearance, he played the role of Giriraj in the Sci-fi Fantasy series Dhruv Tara – Samay Sadi Se Pare in 2024.

Personal life and death Pankaj Dheer was born on 9 November 1956 in Punjab,

Pankaj Dheer died from cancer on 15 October 2025, at the age of 68. A funeral was held and he was cremated at Pawan Hans Crematorium in the Vile Parle West area of Mumbai. Salman Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, Firoz Khan and several other actors paid their last respects.

As actor

Film Year Title Role(s) Notes 1981 Poonam Girija 1991 Sanam Bewafa Zuber Khan 1991 Sadak Inspector Irani 1992 Mr. Bond Dragon / Daga 1992 Jaagruti Custom Officer Vishal 1993 Pardesi Hussian 1995 Nishana Police Commissioner Mallik 2003 Andaaz Professor Rohit Malhotra 2013 Gippi Papaji 2013 Mahabharat Aur Barbareek Karna

Television Year Serial Role 1988–1990 Mahabharata Karna 1993 Zee Horror Show Monty 1994 The Great Maratha Sadashivrao Bhau 1997 Yug Ali Khan 1997–1998 Mahabharat Katha Karna 1999 Rishtey Dayashankar 2004–2005 Kamini Damini Kamini's husband 2008–2009 Teen Bahuraaniyaan Dwarkadas 2010 Rang Badalti Odhani Sarpanch 2011–2012 Sasural Simar Ka Jamnalal Dwivedi 2011 Shobha Somnath Ki Kirit Chalukya 2015 Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane Anand Kapoor 2015 Doli Armaano Ki Mr. Jaamdar 2016 Rishton Ka Saudagar – Baazigar Kailashnath Trivedi 2016–2018 Badho Bahu Ganga Singh Ahlawat 2019 Poison Barrister D'Costa 2022–2023 Ajooni Ravindra Singh Bagga, Gyaneshwar Singh 2024 Dhruv Tara – Samay Sadi Se Pare Giriraj