A prayer meet was held in Mumbai on Friday, October 17, 2025, to honor the memory of veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, who passed away on October 15, 2025, reportedly after a battle with cancer. The prayer meet, organized by the Dheer, Shah, Sengar, and Khanna families, took place at the ISKCON Temple in Juhu. The invitation shared by the families expressed that the gathering was to celebrate the life of a remarkable soul whose love, laughter, and wisdom would continue to guide them.
Numerous Bollywood celebrities attended the prayer meet to pay their respects and offer condolences to the Dheer family. Among those present were Abhishek Bachchan, Shilpa Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Zayed Khan, Suresh Oberoi, and Rajat Bedi. Other notable personalities included Ramesh Taurani, Mukesh Chhabra, Mukesh Khanna, Mukesh Rishi, Poonam Dhillon, Puneet Issar, Raj Kundra, Ranjeet, Ratan Jain, Rikku Rakeshnath, Rohit Shetty, Satluj Dheer, Sharad Saxena, Surinder Pal, Tanvi Azmi, Tej Sapru, Upasana Singh, and Urvashi Dholakia. The large turnout from the film fraternity highlighted the deep respect and affection the industry held for Pankaj Dheer.
The late actor’s family, including his son Nikitin Dheer, his wife, and daughter-in-law Kritika Dheer, were present at the prayer meet. A particularly touching moment was observed when Pankaj Dheer's wife and Kritika Dheer entered the venue hand in hand, followed shortly by Nikitin Dheer.
Pankaj Dheer was widely known for his iconic portrayal of Karna in B.R. Chopra's epic television series, Mahabharat. His career spanned over three decades, during which he played numerous critically acclaimed roles.
Following Pankaj Dheer's death, tributes poured in from fans and colleagues alike. Hema Malini, a close friend of the actor, shared a heartfelt note expressing her grief. She remembered Pankaj Dheer as an affectionate and enthusiastic individual, a talented actor who won audience's hearts, and someone who was always supportive and encouraging. She also extended her condolences to his wife, Anita, acknowledging her as the light of his life.
