Key Highlights
- Kratika Sengar remembered her father-in-law, veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, on his first death anniversary.
- She wrote, “Today... Tomorrow... N Forever... Love You DAD.”
- Pankaj Dheer died on October 15, 2025, in Mumbai after a battle with cancer.
- He is best remembered for playing Karna in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat.
- He is survived by his wife Anita and son, actor Nikitin Dheer.
Actress Kratika Sengar marked the first death anniversary of her father-in-law, veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, on Thursday with a short but emotional note on social media.
“Today... Tomorrow... N Forever... Love You DAD,” she wrote.
Kratika is married to actor Nikitin Dheer, Pankaj Dheer’s son. By addressing him simply as “Dad,” she reflected the close and affectionate bond she shared with him, one that went far beyond that of a daughter-in-law.
A Year Since the Loss
Pankaj Dheer passed away on October 15, 2025, in Mumbai, after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 68. His death was mourned across the film and television industry, where he was respected not only as an actor but also as an active voice for fellow artists.
The Face of Karna for Generations
For millions of Indians, Pankaj Dheer was Karna. His portrayal of the tragic and generous warrior in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat (1988) remains one of the most memorable performances in Indian television history.
The role became so closely associated with him that his image as Karna appeared in school textbooks. “Even in the history books of schools, if they have a reference to Karna, they have my picture there,” he had once said in an interview. He also spoke about being worshipped in Karna temples, including one in Bastar, a reflection of how deeply audiences connected with his performance.
A Career Beyond Mahabharat
Pankaj Dheer’s career spanned more than four decades across television and cinema.
On television, he was seen in shows such as Chandrakanta, where he played Shivdutt, Badho Bahu, Sasural Simar Ka and Dhruv Tara Samay Sadi Se Pare, his last show in 2024. In films, he appeared in Soldier, Baadshah and Sanam Bewafa, among others.
Beyond acting, he co-founded Visage Studioz in Mumbai with his brother Satluj Dheer in 2006 and served as General Secretary of the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA).
Why It Matters
Few television performances become part of a nation’s cultural memory. Pankaj Dheer’s Karna did. For the generation that grew up watching Mahabharat on Doordarshan, he remains the defining face of the character. For his family, he remains something far more personal, a father whose absence is still deeply felt a year later.
The Bottom Line
A year after his passing, Pankaj Dheer is remembered by viewers as Mahabharat’s Karna, and by his family, in Kratika Sengar’s words, “Today... Tomorrow... N Forever.”
Kratika Sengar’s post has been sourced from her official Instagram account.
Key Highlights
- Kratika Sengar remembered her father-in-law, veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, on his first death anniversary.
- She wrote, “Today... Tomorrow... N Forever... Love You DAD.”
- Pankaj Dheer died on October 15, 2025, in Mumbai after a battle with cancer.
- He is best remembered for playing Karna in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat.
- He is survived by his wife Anita and son, actor Nikitin Dheer.
Actress Kratika Sengar marked the first death anniversary of her father-in-law, veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, on Thursday with a short but emotional note on social media.
“Today... Tomorrow... N Forever... Love You DAD,” she wrote.
Kratika is married to actor Nikitin Dheer, Pankaj Dheer’s son. By addressing him simply as “Dad,” she reflected the close and affectionate bond she shared with him, one that went far beyond that of a daughter-in-law.
A Year Since the Loss
Pankaj Dheer passed away on October 15, 2025, in Mumbai, after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 68. His death was mourned across the film and television industry, where he was respected not only as an actor but also as an active voice for fellow artists.
The Face of Karna for Generations
For millions of Indians, Pankaj Dheer was Karna. His portrayal of the tragic and generous warrior in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat (1988) remains one of the most memorable performances in Indian television history.
The role became so closely associated with him that his image as Karna appeared in school textbooks. “Even in the history books of schools, if they have a reference to Karna, they have my picture there,” he had once said in an interview. He also spoke about being worshipped in Karna temples, including one in Bastar, a reflection of how deeply audiences connected with his performance.
A Career Beyond Mahabharat
Pankaj Dheer’s career spanned more than four decades across television and cinema.
On television, he was seen in shows such as Chandrakanta, where he played Shivdutt, Badho Bahu, Sasural Simar Ka and Dhruv Tara Samay Sadi Se Pare, his last show in 2024. In films, he appeared in Soldier, Baadshah and Sanam Bewafa, among others.
Beyond acting, he co-founded Visage Studioz in Mumbai with his brother Satluj Dheer in 2006 and served as General Secretary of the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA).
Why It Matters
Few television performances become part of a nation’s cultural memory. Pankaj Dheer’s Karna did. For the generation that grew up watching Mahabharat on Doordarshan, he remains the defining face of the character. For his family, he remains something far more personal, a father whose absence is still deeply felt a year later.
The Bottom Line
A year after his passing, Pankaj Dheer is remembered by viewers as Mahabharat’s Karna, and by his family, in Kratika Sengar’s words, “Today... Tomorrow... N Forever.”
Kratika Sengar’s post has been sourced from her official Instagram account.