Pankaj Dheer's son Nikitin Dheer played Ravan in TV series Ramayan, and here’s how the ‘Karna’ reacted

Pankaj Dheer, widely remembered for his iconic role as Karna in B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat and as King Shiv Dutt in Chandrakanta, passed away at the age of 68 following a battle with cancer. Ashoke Pandit confirmed to PTI, "He passed away due to cancer this morning. He had been in and out of hospital in the past months." Pankaj Dheer is survived by his wife Anita Dheer and son Nikitin, who is also an actor. Pankaj Dheer's son Nikitin Dheer, a television and film actor, who played a role of Ravan in the TV series Srimad Ramayan, once shared a deeply personal experience about his father’s reaction to his performance.

Pankej Dheer's son, Nikitin Dheer, on playing Ravan

Nikitin described taking on the role of Ravan as a destined opportunity. “Honestly, I believe the role of Ravan was meant for me, almost as if the universe had orchestrated it,” he told ETimes TV in an interview. The actor explained that shortly after getting a tattoo of Lord Mahadev, he was offered the part of Ravan within 15 days. “It felt like destiny had aligned perfectly, fulfilling a major wish of mine,” he said.

Also read: Pankaj Dheer death reason: Here's why actor who portrayed 'Karna' in BR Chopra's iconic Mahabharat passed away


The actor has earned praise for his understanding of Ravan’s complexity and depth. Nikitin also revealed how emotional he felt after receiving personal praise from his father, whom he considers his biggest critic.

Pankaj Dheer’s reaction on son's ravan role

Speaking about his father’s response, Nikitin shared, “My father has watched every episode of Ramayan. He has loved it immensely. He even called up Siddharth [the director] a couple of times to discuss aspects of the show. For me, that is the greatest victory because my father is my biggest critic.”

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Nikitin recalled a moving moment: “Unhone Mujhse Ek baat nahi that you performed the role of Ravan even better than me. Main bhi itna accha nahi kar paata. I remember I was shooting in Umbergaon and literally had tears in my eyes. Coming from him, it meant everything, because I’ve seen him as a child working as Karna and know the hard work it takes.”

Also Read: Pankaj Dheer: How 'moustache stupidity' cost him Arjun's role but destiny made him Mahabharat's Karna

Nikitin’s reflections show not only his dedication to embodying one of Indian mythology’s most complex characters but also the special bond he shared with his father, a bond forged through admiration, critique, and mutual respect for the craft of acting.