New Delhi: Veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, who passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday after a long fight with cancer, is best known for playing Karna in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat. He essayed one of television’s most unforgettable characters and brought Karna to life with his unmatched acting prowess.
When BR Chopra kicked Pankaj Dheer out of Mahabharat
In a tale that feels almost scripted by fate, Dheer’s path to becoming Karna began with rejection. Few know that Dheer had originally auditioned for the role of Arjuna. However, he was rejected and removed from the project after he refused to shave his moustache off for the role. Becoming Karna was marked by an unexpected twist of fate for Dheer.
Years ago, in an interview with YouTube channel Lehren Retro, the actor had once recalled how he was originally chosen to play Arjuna in BR Chopra’s iconic series. Laughing at the memory, Dheer recalled, “When I gave my audition, writers Rahi Masoom Raza, Bhring Tupkari, and Pandit Narendra Sharma thought I was perfect for Arjuna. I even signed the contract.”
Destiny, moustache and memory
Fondly reminiscing, Dheer shared, “Then Chopra saab told me I would have to play Brihannala too, which meant shaving my moustache. I refused. He got furious and threw me out of his office, saying, ‘Get out and don’t come back.’”
In hindsight, Dheer called the decision “stupidity,” but fate had other plans. “After six months, he called me again and offered me Karna’s role. I asked, ‘Sir, I don’t have to shave my moustache, right?’ He said no. That was destiny.”
From Arjuna’s rejection to Karna’s redemption
The irony was poetic. Dheer, who had lost out on the virtuous Arjuna, went on to embody his nobler rival, Karna — the tragic and wronged warrior, loyal to a fault, marked by sacrifice and grace. His deep, regal presence and controlled anguish made Karna more than a mythological figure.
Dheer’s face became synonymous with the living, breathing tragedy of Karna’s life for Indian households in the 1980s and 1990s. BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, along with Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan (1987), became one of the most successful television series based on an epic in Indian television history. For a generation, Dheer’s face became Karna. Textbooks would later borrow his likeness for illustrations of the ancient hero, a rare honour for any actor.
For many who grew up watching him on screen, Pankaj Dheer was a reminder that sometimes rejection clears the way for purpose. Losing Arjuna led him to Karna, a role that demanded not a clean-shaven face, but a depth of character few could summon. And so, in the grand narrative of his own life, Dheer’s story echoed the one he portrayed — a man denied his rightful place, only to find a greater one written in the stars.
A legacy etched in golden letters
68-year-old Dheer breathed his last around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, as confirmed by his close friend and fellow actor Amit Behl. An official statement from CINTAA (Cine & TV Artistes Association) was released on Tuesday, confirming the news of Dheer’s death: “With profound grief and deep sorrow, we inform you of the passing away of our Trust’s erstwhile Chairman and CINTAA’s former Hon. General Secretary, Shri Pankaj Dheer ji, on 15th October 2025. The cremation will be held today at 4:30 p.m next to Pawan Hans, Vile Parle(W) Mumbai.”
According to reports, Dheer had been battling cancer for some time and had undergone major surgery. The illness, however, relapsed a few months ago, and his health deteriorated rapidly.