&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Nikitin Dheer pays emotional tribute after immersing father Pankaj Dheer’s ashes in Ganga | Watch")
Actor Nikitin Dheer has finally broken his silence ten days after the passing of his father, veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, who succumbed to cancer on October 15, 2025. In a deeply emotional social media post, Nikitin shared a moving tribute to his "Dad, Guru, and best friend" while confirming that he had immersed his father’s ashes in the holy River Ganga.
Last rites and industry tributes
The veteran actor, widely celebrated for his iconic portrayal of Karna in the television epic Mahabharat, was laid to rest in Mumbai in the presence of several industry stars, including Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, and Sidharth Malhotra. Following the funeral, Nikitin maintained a dignified silence on social media, choosing to grieve privately before sharing his first public reaction after completing the final rites.
Nikitin’s emotional post
Taking to social media, the Shershaah and Chennai Express actor penned a heartfelt note, accompanied by a video montage of his late father. Expressing the profound loss felt by the family, Nikitin wrote, "On the 15th of October 2025, I lost my Dad, my Guru, my best friend...Shri Pankaj Dheer...he wasn't well for sometime...it shattered us as a family."
He acknowledged the universal truth of death while grappling with the loss of an "essential aspect of one's existence."
Solace in the "river of love" from fans
Nikitin shared his overwhelming gratitude for the continuous flow of love, respect, and prayers from fans, colleagues, and friends across the industry. He wrote, "As a few days passed and I saw the continuous river of love he was receiving, I realised that...this is life...not the material things one gathers... But the love...the blessings...the aadar satkar...all of which is intangible."
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026 team of the tournament: The best XI that ruled football’s biggest stage
)
Truck loaded with stones, metro stations closed: What's happening at Jantar Mantar now
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
Jail over Khamenei post: J&K youth returns home after 3 months in Saudi custody
)
Salman Khan breaks silence on health concerns after viral Mumbai appearance
)
FACT CHECK: Was Abhijit Dipke detained during CJP's Parliament march? Here's what police say
)
'We acted immediately...': Indian PM Modi breaks silence on paper leaks as NEET protest, calls for Education Minister's resignation grows
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 20-26, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, 72 Hours- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Explained: Why Rodri won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball over Lionel Messi
)
Student union leaders call off hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after civil society appeal, but protest continues
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the S-400 uses solid rocket fuel instead of liquid fuel
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
2026 FIFA World Cup awards: Full list of Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Golden Glove and every major winner
)
'Guru is the...': Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shares message on education amid calls for his resignation
)
Xi Jinping's new AI bloc: China launches 'World AI Body' with Pakistan and Russia in, India out
)
Lip reader reveals what Donald Trump told every Spain and Argentina player after FIFA World Cup final during medal ceremony
)
Japan is selling a refrigerator to cool the human body for Rs 9 lakh. It is already a hit in Tokyo
)
Sonam Wangchuk's connection with George Soros and Ford Foundation explained!
)
Indus treaty can no longer function in its current form, says India; plans 5,500 mw of new J&K hydro projects
)
UP BTech gold medalist dies by suicide after failing in nearly 50 govt job attempts, leaves note for father
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
)
'What is wrong...': Anna Hazare breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk's protest, makes an appeal to Centre
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22’s cockpit glass is thicker than a standard fighter jet
)
'Now come to us': CJP resumes protest after Parliament march violence, calls meeting with Nadda 'waste of time'
)
'There is no need for...': PM Modi takes a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhi, sends big message amid Parliament March
Final farewell at the Ganga
The emotional tribute accompanied the news that the family had performed the asthi visarjan (immersion of ashes) in the sacred River Ganga today. Nikitin specifically thanked HH Swami Chidanand Shastri ji for assisting the family with the immersion and pooja at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh.
A promise to his "best father"
Concluding his post, Nikitin expressed his immense pride in being Pankaj Dheer’s son, describing him as the "best father a boy could ever ask for." He vowed to uphold his father's powerful life lessons, of "grit, character, loyalty, and persevering," promising to make him proud as both an actor and a human being.
Pankaj Dheer’s legacy extends beyond Mahabharat to films like Baadshah and Tarzan, but his dignified portrayal of Karna remains etched in the memory of the nation.
