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

Veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, best known for his iconic role as 'Karna' in the television series Mahabharat, passed away on October 15, 2025, at the age of 68. The cause of death was a prolonged battle with cancer. Following the news of his death, many fans and co-stars paid their respects and shared condolences on social media, remembering his celebrated career. His last rites were performed on the evening of October 15 in Mumbai, and Bollywood actors like Salman Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, and Hema Malini paid their respects to Pankaj in person, trying to contain their emotions.

Salman Khan seemed to wipe tears at Pankaj Dheer's funeral

Bollywood superstar, Salman Khan, paid his respects at the funeral of veteran actor and friend, Pankaj Dheer, on October 15, 2025. Salman was seen talking to Pankaj's grieving family, including his wife, his son, Nikitin Dheer (also an actor) and his daughter-in-law, Kratika Sengar. He consoled Nikitin Dheer with a warm hug during the last rites of Pankaj Dheer. Salman himself was visibly emotional, seemingly wiping his tears, as seen in a viral video. He had a sorrowful expression, and it seemed like he was trying his best not to break down at Pankaj Dheer's funeral.

Watch the video here.

Salman Khan and Pankaj Dheer's long-term bond

Salman Khan and veteran actor, Pankaj Dheer shared a long-standing, personal bond that went beyond their professional relationship. Having worked together on multiple films, their friendship was rooted in mutual respect, admiration, and a shared history that began when Pankaj Dheer saw a young Salman Khan growing up. Pankaj often spoke of his deep affection for Salman. In an interview with Lehren Retro, the Mahabharat star referred to Salman as a beautiful person with a big heart. He further stated that he knew no one better in the film industry than the Kick actor and was at a loss for words to describe him. Pankaj said:

"There is no better human being than Salman in the film industry. Vo bohot khoobsurat aadmi hai. I don't have words to describe him. He is a different kind of kid. We can only salute him. Every time I meet him, I just hug him. He has given his everything to his family."

Pankaj and Salman were close enough to share hugs at every meeting, and they respected each other's family-man side. In the same interview, Pankaj Dheer also fondly recalled playing cricket with Salman and his brother. He expressed happiness at Salman achieving great heights in his career. Pankaj Dheer and Salman Khan worked together in the films, Sanam Bewafa (1991) and Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge (2002). Pankaj's son, Nikitin Dheer, also worked with Salman in the films, Ready (2011) and Dabangg 2 (2012). Given their long-standing connection, it was only natural that Pankaj's passing would profoundly affect Salman.

What was the cause of Pankaj Dheer's death?

Pankaj Dheer passed away after a prolonged battle with the disease. The veteran actor had been fighting cancer for some time and had reportedly gone into remission after surgery. Pankaj had even undergone a major surgery for cancer, and he got better for a while, but the illness relapsed, proving fatal this time. Pankaj had reportedly been in and out of the hospital in the months leading up to his death. His death was confirmed by the Cine & TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) in an official statement.

What are your thoughts on Salman Khan getting tearful at Pankaj Dheer's funeral? Let us know.

Also Read: Pankaj Dheer Almost Went Blind On The Sets Of 'Mahabharat' Due To Technical Fault, 'No Doctor Was..'

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)