From their on-set shenanigans to maintaining a bond for decades, Nitish Bharadwaj gets candid about his pal Pankaj Dheer, who left for the heavenly abode
Nitish Bharadwaj, Pankaj Dheer Pic/AFP
Veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, known for playing Karna in BR Chopra's Mahabharat, died at the age of 68 following a battle with cancer. His co-star Nitish Bharadwaj, who essayed the role of Lord Krishna, speaks exclusively to mid-day as he remembers the late actor. From their on-set shenanigans to maintaining a bond for decades, Nitish gets candid about his pal who left for the heavenly abode.
Nitish Bharadwaj on Pankaj Dheer’s sense of humour
When asked about their time on the sets of Mahabharat, Nitish recalls, “Pankaj was a guy with a sense of humour, very straightforward. He was a live wire on the set and a good storyteller. I met him a few months ago at a party. Recently, he sent me a message, then called me, and said he wants to see my Hindi play Chakravyuh. I was to call him on the 2nd of November at NCPA.”
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Nitish Bharadwaj on his bond with Pankaj Dheer
While Mahabharat aired in the late 80s, Nitish and Pankaj’s bond extended beyond work. “We started as Mr. Nobodies and became stars because of Mahabharat. So the bonding between us is purely as human beings, no starry airs, no tantrums. These kinds of relationships don't exist anymore. In Mumbai, especially in the film industry, they're all very busy. Their minds are highly commerce-oriented,” added Nitish.
About Pankaj Dheer’s death
Pankaj Dheer’s cremation will be held later in the day. The actor, who hailed from Punjab, started as an actor in the 1980s. His big break came in 1988 when he was cast as Karna. After that, his popularity peaked, and he starred in many movies such as Sadak, Sanam Bewafa, and Aashik Awara.
From 1994 to 1996, Dheer starred in the TV series Chandrakanta, loosely based on author Devaki Nandan Khatri's 1888 novel of the same name. He essayed the popular role of Shivdutt, the king of the fictional kingdom of Chunargarh.
Some of his notable movies also include Bobby Deol's Soldier, Shah Rukh Khan's Baadshah, Akshay Kumar's Andaz, and Ajay Devgn's Zameen and Tarzan.
In the late 2000s, Dheer appeared in many daily soaps, Teen Bahuraaniyaan, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, and Sasural Simar Ka.
Dheer is survived by his wife Anita Dheer and son Nikitin Dheer, who is also an actor.
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