Mumbai, Oct 15 (NationPress) Bollywood actress Esha Deol expressed her heartfelt condolences for the late Pankaj Dheer on her social media platform. The actor's passing on October 15 sent a wave of grief throughout the nation.

Esha shared a touching photograph of the veteran actor along with a poignant farewell message. She stated, “Deeply saddened to learn about the departure of Pankaj uncle. A cherished family friend and a wonderful human being always radiating joy. I will miss you and our delightful conversations, marked by your laughter. May your soul find eternal peace. My deepest condolences to aunty, @nikitandheer, and the family. Om Shanti.”

At Pankaj Dheer's funeral, Esha Deol's mother, renowned Bollywood superstar Hema Malini, was present. Earlier that day, Dheer’s co-star Arjun Feroz Khan, who portrayed Arjuna in the iconic series Mahabharat, took to social media to share his sorrow.

He expressed, “Gentleman!!! Bids goodbye (teary-eyed emoji) I will miss you PD (broken heart emoji). Stay blessed. (Sparkle emojis)” along with a picture featuring the late actor. Ashoke Pandit, President of the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association, also shared a tribute online, stating, “Shocked to hear about the tragic loss of our dear friend and outstanding actor, Pankaj Dheer. A remarkable human being. This is a significant loss for the industry. Heartfelt condolences to the family. Om Shanti (folded hands emoji).” He further detailed the cremation arrangements, “Please note the final rites will be held at Pawan Hans cremation ground, S.V. Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai.”

Reports indicate that Pankaj had been diagnosed with cancer some time ago and was fighting valiantly against it. His condition had reportedly worsened after a relapse a few months ago, and he had been in poor health since then. Although the exact cause of his death remains unclear, he had undergone significant surgery as part of his cancer treatment.

A notable figure in Indian cinema and television, Pankaj Dheer is best known for his iconic role as “Karn” in the legendary TV series “Mahabharat.” He gained widespread recognition after portraying Karn in B. R. Chopra’s 1988 epic television series and later starred as the lead in Dastak in 1993, alongside Shagufta Ali and Sameer Kakkar. He also played significant roles in numerous Bollywood films.

His film credits include appearances in Bobby Deol's Soldier and Abhishek Bachchan's Zameen, among others. Pankaj’s final appearance was in the sci-fi fantasy romantic drama series “Dhruv Tara Samay Sadi Se Pare,” which featured Ishaan Dhawan and Riya Sharma.

Pankaj Dheer is survived by his wife Aneeta, son Nikitin Dheer, and daughter-in-law Kratika Sengar, who is also an actress. He was also a proud grandfather to his 3-year-old granddaughter, Devika.