Jackie Shroff remembers Pankaj Dheer on 70th birth anniversary
Synopsis
On what would have been Pankaj Dheer's 70th birthday, Jackie Shroff's Instagram tribute brings renewed attention to a performer whose refusal to shave a moustache accidentally gave Indian television one of its most iconic characters — Karna in Mahabharat. Dheer passed away from cancer in 2025 at 68, leaving behind four decades of film and TV work.
Key Takeaways
Jackie Shroff paid tribute to Pankaj Dheer on his 70th birth anniversary on 9 November 2026 via an Instagram story.
Dheer was best known for playing Karna in B.
Chopra's Mahabharat — a role he secured after refusing to shave his moustache, having been originally cast as Arjuna.
His on-screen career began with the film Poonam in 1981 and spanned over four decades of Hindi film and television.
In 2010 , he founded Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai , and directed the film My Father Godfather in 2014 .
Dheer died of cancer in 2025 at the age of 68 ; his final TV role was in Dhruv Tara – Samay Sadi Se Pare in 2024 .
Veteran actor Jackie Shroff paid a heartfelt tribute to the late actor Pankaj Dheer on his 70th birth anniversary on 9 November 2026, remembering a performer whose iconic portrayal of Karna in B. R. Chopra's Mahabharat made him a household name across India.
Jackie's tribute
Shroff took to his Instagram stories to share a post honouring Dheer, writing: "Remembering Pankaj Dheer Ji on his birth anniversary #PankajDheer." The gesture reflects the affection Dheer commanded among peers and audiences alike, even after his passing in 2025.
A career defined by Karna
Dheer made his on-screen debut with the film Poonam in 1981, taking on a string of smaller roles before his career-defining opportunity arrived. Cast initially as Arjuna in Chopra's landmark television series Mahabharat, he secured the role of Karna after reportedly refusing to shave his moustache — a quirk of circumstance that would reshape his legacy. The role cemented him as one of Indian television's most memorable performers and turned Mahabharat's Karna into a cultural touchstone.
Versatility beyond Mahabharat
Dheer's range extended well beyond his signature role. He led the debut episode of the Zee Horror Show's anthology series Dastak alongside Archana Puran Singh, and played the lead defence lawyer in the courtroom drama series Kanoon. He portrayed King Shivdutt in the fantasy series Chandrakanta in 1994, and appeared as Hussain in the 1993 action film Pardesi.
In Hindi cinema, he contributed versatile supporting performances in films including Soldier, Andaaz, Baadshah, and Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, as well as Police Inspector Malik in the 1995 film Nishana. His final television appearance came in 2024, when he played Giriraj in the sci-fi fantasy series Dhruv Tara – Samay Sadi Se Pare.
Educator, director, institution-builder
Beyond performance, Dheer invested in nurturing new talent. In 2010, he founded Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai, with veteran actor Gufi Paintal heading the faculty. He also stepped behind the camera, directing the romantic comedy-drama My Father Godfather in 2014. And in 2011, he featured in the Zee TV historical drama Shobha Somnath Ki.
Pankaj Dheer passed away from cancer in 2025 at the age of 68, leaving behind a body of work that spanned four decades of Indian film and television.
Jackie Shroff: recent work
Shroff was most recently seen in Welcome to the Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan and written by Neeraj Vora. The ensemble comedy features Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Farida Jalal, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Yashpal Sharma, and Akshara Singh.
Point of View
His work across horror anthologies, courtroom dramas, fantasy serials, and acting education reveals a performer with considerably wider range. Jackie Shroff's brief Instagram tribute may trend today, but the more lasting conversation worth having is why Indian television's golden-era performers so rarely receive institutional recognition while alive.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Pankaj Dheer?
Pankaj Dheer was a veteran Indian actor best known for playing Karna in B. R. Chopra's iconic television series Mahabharat. He debuted on screen in the 1981 film Poonam and went on to build a four-decade career in Hindi films and television before passing away from cancer in 2025 at age 68.
How did Pankaj Dheer get the role of Karna in Mahabharat?
Dheer was originally cast as Arjuna in the Mahabharat series, but secured the role of Karna after reportedly refusing to shave his moustache. The role became the defining performance of his career and made him a household name across India.
When did Pankaj Dheer pass away?
Pankaj Dheer passed away from cancer in 2025 at the age of 68. His final television appearance was in the sci-fi fantasy series Dhruv Tara – Samay Sadi Se Pare in 2024.
Why is Jackie Shroff paying tribute to Pankaj Dheer?
Jackie Shroff shared a tribute on his Instagram stories on 9 November 2026 to mark what would have been Pankaj Dheer's 70th birth anniversary. He wrote: 'Remembering Pankaj Dheer Ji on his birth anniversary #PankajDheer.'
What else was Pankaj Dheer known for beyond Mahabharat?
Beyond his iconic Karna role, Dheer appeared in Zee Horror Show, the courtroom series Kanoon, the fantasy serial Chandrakanta, and Hindi films including Soldier, Andaaz, and Baadshah. He also founded Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai in 2010 and directed the film My Father Godfather in 2014.
