Pankaj Dheer Wanted to Understand Karna Through Krishna’s Perspective

Pankaj Dheer, the veteran actor known for his iconic portrayal of Karna in B.R. Chopra’s legendary TV series Mahabharat, passed away on 15 October. His co-stars from the show, Nitish Bharadwaj (Krishna) and Gajendra Chauhan (Yudhishthira), expressed deep sorrow over his demise.

Nitish Bharadwaj shared that the role of Karna was so powerful and respected that he and Pankaj often discussed its depth. Both Karna and Krishna are central figures in the Mahabharata, and what made Pankaj Dheer stand out was his desire to understand Karna not just as a warrior, but through Krishna’s spiritual and moral lens.

The Famous Scene: Krishna Reveals Karna’s True Identity

Nitish recalled one of the most emotional and pivotal scenes in the series — when Krishna reveals to Karna that he is not a charioteer’s son (Radheya), but the son of Kunti, making him a Pandava. Before shooting that powerful moment, Pankaj Dheer had a detailed discussion with director Ravi Chopra.

Not stopping there, Pankaj Dheer visited Nitish Bharadwaj’s home, where they spent two days deeply analyzing Karna’s emotional conflict. He wanted to explore how Karna’s inner turmoil should be reflected when he is confronted with his true identity by Krishna.

Understanding the Character From a Divine Perspective

According to Nitish, what made Pankaj Dheer a remarkable actor was his ability to understand his character from another character’s perspective — in this case, Krishna. It’s rare for actors to go to such lengths, and it reflected in the depth Pankaj brought to Karna’s role.

Shooting Memories and Pankaj Dheer’s Personality

The Mahabharat TV series was shot over nearly 2.5 to 3 years, from around 1988 to 1991. Nitish remembered Pankaj Dheer as a simple, grounded man with an exceptional sense of humor. Off-camera, he was known for being friendly and light-hearted, in contrast to the intensity of his on-screen character.