When Pankaj Dheer’s family lost everything due to his father’s promise to Geeta Bali on her deathbed

The sudden demise of veteran actor Pankaj Dheer has left the entire film industry and millions of his admirers in deep shock. The actor, who was reportedly battling cancer, passed away in Mumbai on October 15, 2025. As the industry remembers his stellar contribution to cinema — from Mahabharat’s Karna to countless memorable film roles, few know of the emotional and financial hardship his family once endured because of a promise his father made to actress Geeta Bali on her deathbed.

The promise that changed everything

Pankaj Dheer’s father, C.L. Dheer, was a well-known filmmaker of his time. In one of his earlier interviews with Lehren Retro, Pankaj shared a heartbreaking story that forever changed the course of their lives. He revealed that their family lost everything after Geeta Bali’s tragic passing in 1965, all because his father refused to break a promise made to her.

At that time, C.L. Dheer was co-producing a film titled Raano, starring Dharmendra and Geeta Bali in the lead roles. Both had invested equally in the project, and the film was almost complete, except for Geeta Bali’s remaining scenes.

“Almost 6-7 days of work was left, so Geeta Bali suggested that he could finish everything else, and finish the rest of her scenes at the end,” Pankaj recalled. “The entire film was done and ready, just three days of Geeta Bali’s scenes were left. You can call it bad luck... Geeta Bali got infected with smallpox in Punjab.”

A promise kept, a fortune lost

The actress, tragically, never recovered. On her deathbed, she asked C.L. Dheer to promise that Raano would never be completed or released after her passing. True to his word, he kept that promise, even when industry legends like Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari tried to convince him otherwise.

“Dilip saab suggested that he would come on screen and plead with the audience, asking them to accept Meena Kumari in Geeta Bali’s role after the tragedy,” Pankaj said. “But my father was insistent that this film is gone with Geeta. So all the money that was invested — it was gone. My father went into a shell after that. After this, our family went through a tough time.”

A young Pankaj’s determination to rebuild

The financial setback was so severe that Pankaj, still in his teens, decided to start working early to support his family. The loss deeply affected their lives, but it also shaped Pankaj’s resilience and commitment toward his craft. Over the years, he went on to carve his own path in the entertainment industry, eventually becoming one of television and cinema’s most respected actors.



Today, even as fans mourn his passing, Pankaj Dheer’s legacy stands tall, not just as a talented performer, but as a man who rebuilt from loss with courage and grace. His son, Nikitin Dheer, continues that legacy, making his mark as one of the leading faces of the new generation.