Akshay Kumar pays tribute to Pankaj Dheer: 'He was in my first film'
Synopsis
At the trailer launch of Welcome to the Jungle, Akshay Kumar broke down remembering Pankaj Dheer — the man who played the villain in his very first film and remained a close friend for over three decades. With Dheer gone at 68 after a battle with cancer, the film becomes his final screen farewell, adding rare emotional weight to what is otherwise a commercial comedy launch.
Key Takeaways
Akshay Kumar paid tribute to Pankaj Dheer at the Welcome to the Jungle trailer launch on 11 June .
Pankaj Dheer passed away on 15 October 2025 in Mumbai at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer.
Welcome to the Jungle is Dheer's final film appearance.
The two actors first worked together in the early 1990s ; Dheer played the villain in Akshay's debut film.
Dheer is best remembered for playing Karna in B.R.
Chopra 's television epic Mahabharat .
He is survived by his wife Anita Dheer and son, actor Nikitin Dheer .
Akshay Kumar got visibly emotional at the trailer launch of his upcoming film Welcome to the Jungle on 11 June, paying a heartfelt tribute to his late co-star and close friend Pankaj Dheer, who passed away on 15 October 2025 at the age of 68. The actor recalled that Dheer had been part of his journey from the very beginning — appearing as the villain in his debut film — and described Welcome to the Jungle as Dheer's final screen appearance.
Akshay's Tribute in His Own Words
Speaking at the event, Akshay said, 'I want to also mention about a very, very, very dear friend of mine in this film, Pankaj Dheer, who was with me in my first film. He was the villain in my first film. As you all know, this was his last film. I just want to mention about him. I love you, Pankaj, wherever you are.'
The tribute drew a warm response from the audience, underscoring the deep affection the industry held for Dheer.
A Bond That Spanned Three Decades
The association between Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Dheer stretched back to the early 1990s, when the two first appeared together on screen. Over the years, they collaborated on several films including Mr. Bond, Aatish: Feel the Fire, Sabse Bada Khiladi, and finally Welcome to the Jungle. Their on-screen dynamic — often adversarial — mirrored an off-screen friendship that Akshay described with evident warmth and grief.
Who Was Pankaj Dheer
Pankaj Dheer rose to national prominence through his portrayal of the warrior Karna in B.R. Chopra's landmark television epic Mahabharat, a role that made him a household name across India. He went on to build a substantial film career spanning multiple decades. He is survived by his wife Anita Dheer and son, actor Nikitin Dheer.
Dheer passed away in Mumbai on 15 October 2025 after a prolonged battle with cancer, at the age of 68.
Welcome to the Jungle: A Bittersweet Release
The forthcoming Welcome to the Jungle carries an added layer of emotional weight as it marks Pankaj Dheer's last film. For audiences who grew up watching Dheer as Karna or as the antagonist in 1990s action films, the release will serve as a final farewell to a performer who left a lasting imprint on Indian popular culture.
Point of View
Quietly, is remind audiences that Welcome to the Jungle arrives with a weight its marketing cannot fully package — the final performance of a man who shaped Indian television's most iconic mythological role. Pankaj Dheer's career arc, from Karna on Doordarshan to a supporting villain in 1990s Bollywood, reflects a generation of actors who built massive cultural equity without the machinery of modern celebrity. His passing, and Akshay's public grief, deserves more than a trailer-launch footnote.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Akshay Kumar say about Pankaj Dheer at the Welcome to the Jungle trailer launch?
Akshay Kumar said that Pankaj Dheer was his 'very, very, very dear friend' who appeared as the villain in his first film. He said, 'I love you, Pankaj, wherever you are,' calling the film Dheer's last.
When did Pankaj Dheer pass away and what was the cause?
Pankaj Dheer passed away on 15 October 2025 in Mumbai at the age of 68 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Anita Dheer and son Nikitin Dheer.
What is Pankaj Dheer best known for?
Pankaj Dheer is best remembered for playing the warrior Karna in B.R. Chopra's landmark television series Mahabharat, a role that made him a household name in India. He also appeared in numerous Bollywood films across three decades.
Which films did Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Dheer do together?
Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Dheer collaborated on several films including Mr. Bond, Aatish: Feel the Fire, Sabse Bada Khiladi, and Welcome to the Jungle. Their association began in the early 1990s when Dheer played the villain in Akshay's debut film.
Is Welcome to the Jungle Pankaj Dheer's last film?
Yes, Welcome to the Jungle is confirmed to be Pankaj Dheer's final film appearance. Akshay Kumar acknowledged this publicly at the trailer launch, adding emotional significance to the film's release.
