Hema Malini mourned the demise of Pankaj Dheer, writing on X that she is "totally devastated" by the loss of a "very dear friend". "[He was]...always so affectionate...He passed away after...spunky fight with cancer, which he was determined to overcome," she wrote. "He was always so supportive, encouraging me in whatever I undertook and always by my side," Hema added.