Kratika Sengar Pens ‘Love You Dad’ for Father-in-Law Pankaj Dheer on His First Death Anniversary

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.

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A post shared by Kratika Sengar Dheer (@itsmekratika)

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.