Pankaj Dheer on Irrfan Khan and Salman Khan; fondly recalled Chandrakanta days, said ‘Salman is like a son to me’ |
The sudden demise of veteran actor Pankaj Dheer has left the film industry and millions of his admirers in deep shock. The actor, who was reportedly battling cancer, passed away in Mumbai on October 15, 2025. As tributes pour in from colleagues and fans alike, the industry fondly remembers his stellar contribution to Indian cinema — from playing Karna in Mahabharat to delivering countless memorable performances on film and television.In a past interview with Lehren Retro, Pankaj Dheer had opened up about his experiences working with some of Bollywood’s finest talents, including the late Irrfan Khan and superstar Salman Khan.
Pankaj Dheer recalls Irrfan Khan’s early days
Speaking about the time they worked together on the iconic television series Chandrakanta, Pankaj shared, “Irrfan was standing behind me during Chandrakanta. For 8–9 days, he didn’t get any dialogue. He used to touch me and say, ‘Pankaj, it’s been 8–9 days, I haven’t said anything. Let’s have a chat.’ When we used to talk, I would respond to him like, ‘Listen, this is how it is. What do you say?’ And he would reply, ‘Thank you.’”He went on to praise Irrfan’s incredible journey, saying, “That’s luck. After Chandrakanta, he went abroad, got films, and earned international fame. Like I always say, right film, right time, right release, right moment — that’s very important in an actor’s life.”
“Salman is like a son to me,” said Pankaj Dheer
In the same conversation, the actor had also spoken fondly of Salman Khan, recalling how he had known the megastar since his younger days. “Salman is like a son to me. Back in Bandra, he used to be small, playing cricket and bringing the ball. Who would’ve thought Salman Khan would become such a big hero? You know what that means — such a big hero! It’s destiny,” he had said.Sharing how special Salman is to him, Pankaj added, “There’s no better person than Salman in this industry. He’s a very beautiful soul. I don’t have a single bad word for him. He’s done everything for his family, and he has such a big heart. The respect and love I have for him are impossible to describe. Whenever I meet him, I hug him. He’s fantastic — a truly good person.”
A star has fallen
Pankaj Dheer died at the age of 68 following a battle with cancer on Wednesday. Dheer is survived by wife Anita Dheer and son Nikitin Dheer, who is also an actor. His last rites were conducted at the Pawan Hans crematorium in the evening. Salman Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, Arbaaz Khan, Puneet Issar, and Mika Singh among others paid their last respects to Dheer at the crematorium.
