Dipika Kakar breaks down at Pankaj Dheer’s funeral as Shoaib Ibrahim consoles her

The entertainment world came together in grief to bid farewell to veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, who passed away after a long battle with cancer. The actor, best remembered for playing Karna in B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat, was cremated in Mumbai on October 15. Several film and television personalities attended the funeral, including Salman Khan, Dipika Kakar, and Shoaib Ibrahim.

Emotional visuals from the ceremony showed Dipika Kakar breaking down as she arrived with her husband, Shoaib. Both were dressed in simple white attire, symbolising mourning. Dipika was seen hugging someone close, wiping her tears, and holding Shoaib’s hand as they made their way to the cremation area. Their quiet presence reflected deep respect and compassion for their friend, Nikitin Dheer, who appeared shattered by his father’s loss.

Earlier, just hours before his father’s demise, Nikitin Dheer had shared an emotional message on Instagram. His post read, “Whatever comes, let it come. Whatever stays, let it stay. Whatever goes, let it go. As a Shiva bhakt, say ‘Shivarpanam’ and move on! He’ll take care! Very hard to do.” Fans revisited the post after news of Pankaj Dheer’s passing, expressing condolences and admiration for his strength during the difficult time.

Salman Khan too paid his respects at the funeral. Dressed in an olive-green shirt, the actor maintained a sombre expression as he met the grieving family. Salman and Pankaj Dheer shared a long-standing friendship, having worked together in films like Sanam Bewafa (1991) and Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge (2002).

According to reports, Pankaj Dheer had previously recovered from cancer, but the illness returned a few months ago. Despite medical care, his health deteriorated. The actor was laid to rest in the presence of colleagues, friends, and loved ones from both the film and television fraternities—each of them remembering him not just for his powerful screen presence, but for his warmth and humility off-screen.