Pankaj Dheer Earned Rs. 300 Before 'Mahabharat', Mukesh Recalls He Would Call Him 'Convent Pandav'

Pankaj Dheer passed away on October 15, 2025, leaving his family, friends and fans heartbroken. Tributes from across the country have been pouring in, and his Mahabharat co-star, Mukesh Khanna, has shared a heartfelt YouTube video, remembering his late co-star. The actor called his passing 'sudden and shocking'. He also reflected on the time they worked together and shared some heartwarming stories about the actor. 

Mukesh Khanna revealed that Pankaj Dheer would earn Rs. 300 a month before his big break in Mahabharat

In the video, Mukesh Khanna shared how Pankaj Dheer's journey in Bollywood has been extremely humbling. He revealed that he was working as an assistant director on his first film, Roohi, where he earned just Rs. 300 a month. The Shaktimaan fame recalled how he had a very 'stylish' way of speaking and stated:

"Pankaj Dheer began his career as an assistant director on my first film, Roohi, earning just Rs. 300 a month at the time. I remember him working very honestly and energetically on set. His way of speaking was also very good; he spoke in a very stylised way."

In the same video, Mukesh Khanna shared how, despite coming from a film family, Pankaj Dheer's journey was not easy. He recalled that even though his father had some connections in the film industry, he faced several hurdles and struggled for a long time. For the unversed, it was Pankaj's role in Mahabharat as 'Karna' that made him a well-known name across the country. He was quoted as saying:

"Although his father was also associated with the film industry, Pankaj has struggled in the industry. He faced many hardships."

Mukesh Khanna revealed that Pankaj Dheer never read the original Mahabharat

In the same conversation, Mukesh Khanna also reflected on some joyous experiences with Pankaj Dheer. The actor shared that Pankaj never actually read the original Mahabharat. He added that Pankaj had instead studied Mrityunjay, a retelling of the epic from 'Karna's' perspective. Mukesh recalled how he would poke fun at the same and would call him 'Convent Pandav'. However, Mukesh admitted that Pankaj's portrayal of 'Karna' in the series was phenomenal. He was quoted as saying:

"He hadn’t read the real Mahabharat; he had read Mrityunjay. So, he found many scenes missing in BR Chopra's Mahabharat, according to what he had read. I would jokingly call him 'Convent Pandav' because he hadn't read the real Mahabharat. But his acting was brilliant."

More about Pankaj Dheer

Pankaj Dheer became a household name with his impeccable performance as 'Karna' in Mahabharat. His dignified and emotional take on the tragic warrior earned him immense respect and remains one of the most memorable interpretations of the character on screen. He went on to play powerful roles in landmark TV shows such as Chandrakanta, where he portrayed 'King Shivdutt'. Pankaj was also seen in the fantasy drama, The Great Maratha, and the patriot saga, Yug, as 'Ali Khan' on DD National. He also starred in the courtroom drama series, Kanoon, produced by B.R. Chopra, showcasing his range across genres.

What are your thoughts on Mukesh Khanna's revelation? Let us know.

Next Read: Salman Khan Gets Emotional At Pankaj Dheer's Funeral, Hugs Nikitin Dheer, Consoles His Family

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