Pankaj Dheer’s co-star Puneet Issar is opening up about his relationship with the actor and Dheer's life in recent years.

Dheer, best known for his role as Karna in B.R. Chopra’s iconic television series Mahabharat, recently made headlines after he passed away in Mumbai at the age of 68.

In an exclusive interview with The Times of India, his close friend Puneet spoke about Dheer’s journey and his road to recovery after the disease relapsed in 2024.

Offering an intimate glimpse into their decades-long bond, Puneet shared, “Pankaj was not just my brother in Mahabharat, but also off-screen. Our fathers were friends, and our families have known each other for a very long time.

“He had been battling cancer for a few years. He recovered once, but unfortunately, it relapsed last year, and he had been undergoing treatment since then. Today, I’ve lost my brother.”

Issar, who portrayed Duryodhana in the same series, also reflected on their time working together on the sets of Mahabharat.

He recalled, “Our friendship deepened during the making of Mahabharat. He used to call me ‘Puneetos’, and I called him ‘Pinks’. I had met him just two days ago at his home. I am in shock and at a loss for words. I can’t even begin to talk about the good times we shared over the decades. His son, Nikitin (Dheer), has grown up in front of me.”

For the unversed, Pankaj Dheer passed away on October 15 after a prolonged battle with cancer.