Nikitin Dheer Movies And TV Shows: His Best Roles & Complete 2026 Guide

Category	Details
Full Name	Nikitin Dheer
Also Known As	Nik
Date of Birth	17 March 1980
Age (as of 2026)	46 years
Birthplace	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nikitin Dheer Height	6 ft 4 in (approx. 193–194 cm)
Weight	Around 100 kg
Nikitin Dheer Father	Pankaj Dheer (actor, “Karna” in Mahabharat)
Mother	Anita Dheer (costume designer)
Nikitin Dheer Wife	Kratika Sengar (m. 3 September 2014)
Nikitin Dheer Children	Daughter, Devika Dheer (born 2022)
Profession	Film and television actor
Years Active	2008 – Present
Debut Film	Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Known For	Chennai Express, Dabangg 2, Housefull 3 & 5
Nikitin Dheer Net Worth	Estimated ₹20–25 crore (unofficial figure)
Languages Worked In	Hindi, Telugu, Kannada

Who Is Nikitin Dheer? A Simple Introduction

Before we get into the full list of Nikitin Dheer movies, let’s set the scene. He was born on 17 March 1980 in Mumbai, into a Punjabi film family. His father wasn’t just any actor — Pankaj Dheer played Karna in the legendary 1988 TV series Mahabharat, a role so iconic that his pictures appeared in school textbooks.

Growing up around film sets could have made things easy for Nikitin. Instead, he chose the hard road: black cat commando training, unarmed combat, a black belt, and years of physical conditioning before he ever stepped in front of a camera. That discipline shows up in almost every role he’s played since.

He’s tall, broad, and has a voice that fills a room — which is exactly why directors kept casting him as the guy the hero has to fight.

Nikitin Dheer Movies: The Complete List (Updated 2026)

Here’s where most searches for Nikitin Dheer movies and TV shows actually land — the filmography. Below is a chronological, fact-checked table of his major film work.

Nikitin Dheer movies clearly lean toward action, comedy-action, and period dramas — genres where his physical presence adds instant weight to a scene.

1. Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

Nikitin Dheer made his Bollywood debut with Jodhaa Akbar, playing Sharifuddin Hussain. Set against the Mughal era, the film gave him an opportunity to work alongside Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. His performance as an ambitious and power-hungry character helped him make an early impression.

2. Mission Istaanbul (2008)

In Mission Istaanbul, Nikitin played Al Gazni, adding a strong action-oriented role to his early film career. The movie revolves around a journalist caught up in an international conspiracy. It was another opportunity for Dheer to establish himself in physically demanding and intense roles.

3. Ready (2011)

Nikitin appeared in Ready, the Salman Khan and Asin-starrer comedy. Although his part was not one of the central roles, the film added a popular commercial Bollywood title to his growing filmography. It also gave him experience working in the large-scale comedy-entertainer format.

4. Dabangg 2 (2012)

Dheer was part of Dabangg 2, the sequel to Salman Khan’s popular action-comedy Dabangg. His supporting appearance fit into the film’s larger world of rivalry, crime and action. The project further strengthened his association with mainstream Hindi cinema.

5. Chennai Express (2013)

One of Nikitin Dheer’s most memorable film roles came with Chennai Express, where he played Tangaballi. His towering appearance, distinctive dialogue delivery and comic timing made the character instantly recognizable. The role became a major turning point in his career and remains one of his best-known performances.

6. Kanche (2015)

With the Telugu film Kanche, Nikitin explored a more serious period-drama setting. He played Eswar Prasad in the story, which combines wartime events with a personal tale of conflict and relationships. The film allowed him to move beyond purely commercial Hindi cinema and take on a dramatic Telugu role.

7. Housefull 3 (2016)

Nikitin appeared in Housefull 3, a comedy featuring Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh. He played Rohan Patel as part of the film’s large ensemble. The project once again placed him in a mainstream Bollywood entertainer filled with comedy and chaos.

8. Freaky Ali (2016)

In Freaky Ali, Nikitin played Danger Bhai, bringing his familiar intimidating screen presence to the comedy-drama. The film starred Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead and mixed humor with a story about an ordinary man entering the world of professional golf. Dheer’s role added another entertaining antagonist-type character to his filmography.

9. Goutham Nanda (2017)

Nikitin Dheer took on an antagonist role in the Telugu action drama Goutham Nanda. The film starred Gopichand in a dual role and focused on themes of wealth, identity and family. Dheer’s performance gave him another chance to portray a powerful character within a larger action-driven story.

10. Mister (2017)

In Mister, Nikitin played Rahul Wadayar in this Telugu romantic action film. The story follows a young man whose journey becomes complicated by love, family and unexpected conflicts. His role added another Telugu-language project to his growing South Indian film credits.

11. Rowdy Rajkumar 2 (2017)

Nikitin was also associated with the Kannada project Rowdy Rajkumar 2, playing Gowda. The film added Kannada cinema to his multilingual filmography. His involvement continued the pattern of taking on roles that suited his strong physical presence and action-oriented screen image.

12. Housefull 4 (2019)

Dheer returned to the Housefull franchise with Housefull 4. Like the earlier installment, the movie relied heavily on ensemble comedy, mistaken identities and exaggerated situations. His appearance allowed him to reunite with the commercially successful comedy franchise while adding another mainstream Hindi film to his credits.

13. Dabangg 3 (2019)

Nikitin appeared in Dabangg 3, the third installment of the Salman Khan-led action-comedy franchise. The movie continued the adventures of Chulbul Pandey while introducing a new chapter in his story. Dheer’s role contributed to the film’s larger action and rivalry-driven narrative.

14. Shershaah (2021)

In Shershaah, Nikitin played Major Ajay Jasrotia, also known as Nanu. The film tells the story of Indian Army officer Captain Vikram Batra and the events surrounding the Kargil War. Dheer’s portrayal added to the film’s ensemble of military characters and gave him a role in one of the most widely discussed Hindi films of 2021.

15. Sooryavanshi (2021)

Nikitin joined Rohit Shetty’s cop universe in Sooryavanshi, playing Mukhtar Ansari. The film brought together Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh in a high-energy action spectacle. Dheer’s role suited the movie’s crime-and-action setting and his established screen persona.

16. Antim: The Final Truth (2021)

In Antim: The Final Truth, Nikitin appeared in a supporting role alongside Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma. The film explores the clash between a police officer and a gangster against the backdrop of organized crime. His appearance added another action-focused project to his 2021 lineup.

17. Cirkus (2022)

Nikitin Dheer was part of Cirkus, Rohit Shetty’s comedy starring Ranveer Singh, Varun Sharma and Pooja Hegde. The film revolves around mistaken identities and a series of increasingly chaotic situations. Dheer’s supporting presence complemented the film’s large ensemble cast.

18. Martin (2024)

In Martin, Nikitin Dheer appeared as Mushtaq in the Kannada action thriller. The film, led by Dhruva Sarja, focuses heavily on action, mystery and an international criminal backdrop. Dheer’s involvement gave him another major opportunity to work within a large-scale South Indian action production.

19. Akaal: The Unconquered (2025)

Akaal: The Unconquered added another period-action project to Nikitin Dheer’s recent filmography. The film features a historical setting and an ensemble cast, giving Dheer another opportunity to work in a physically demanding and larger-than-life cinematic environment.

20. Housefull 5 (2025)

Nikitin returned to the comedy franchise with Housefull 5, playing Captain Sameer. The film expanded the franchise’s ensemble with a murder-mystery angle blended into its trademark comedy. His role as Captain Sameer added another distinctive character to his association with the Housefull series.

The Role That Made Him A Star: Chennai Express

If there’s one entry on this list of Nikitin Dheer movies and TV shows that most people remember, it’s Chennai Express (2013). Playing Tangaballi, the muscular South Indian villain who wants to marry Meenamma (Deepika Padukone), Nikitin went toe-to-toe with Shah Rukh Khan on screen — literally, given the height difference — and the confrontation became one of the film’s most talked-about moments. Chennai Express went on to become one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of that year, and Nikitin’s performance is widely credited as a career-defining turn.

Fact-Check: Was Nikitin Dheer Actually In Baahubali?

Search interest around Nikitin Dheer In Bahubali is high, so let’s clear this up honestly. In 2013, shortly after his Chennai Express success, there was strong media buzz that director S.S. Rajamouli was considering Nikitin for a villain role in Baahubali, partly because his height matched the film’s lead actors and reportedly on actor Sathyaraj’s recommendation.

However, that casting never materialized. The main antagonist role in the Baahubali franchise ultimately went to actor Rana Daggubati, who played Bhallaladeva. Nikitin Dheer was not part of the final Baahubali cast.

Nikitin Dheer TV Shows: From Reality TV To Mythology

Films aren’t the only side of Nikitin Dheer movies and TV shows — his television work is just as varied.

His stint on Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 5 in 2014 introduced him to a wider TV audience beyond his film villain image, and finishing as second runner-up proved his physical training wasn’t just for the cameras. More recently, playing Ravana in the 2024 mythological series Shrimad Ramayan brought him back to the genre that shaped his father’s legacy — playing a legendary antagonist, much like Pankaj Dheer once did with Karna.

Nikitin Dheer Height, Build And Why It Matters On Screen

Nikitin Dheer Height is one of the most searched details about him, and for good reason — standing at roughly 6 feet 4 inches (193–194 cm) and weighing close to 100 kg, he’s one of the tallest actors working in Hindi cinema today. That physical scale isn’t incidental; it’s practically a casting tool.

Directors like Rohit Shetty specifically used his height and build to create a visual and physical contrast against the hero in scenes, which is part of why his villain roles feel so memorable despite often being supporting parts rather than lead roles.

Nikitin Dheer Father: The Legacy Of Pankaj Dheer

You cannot talk about Nikitin Dheer without talking about his father. Pankaj Dheer was born on 9 November 1956 in Punjab and became a household name across India for playing Karna in B.R. Chopra’s 1988 TV series Mahabharat — a role so beloved that his image was used in school textbooks as a visual reference for the character.

Sadly, Pankaj Dheer passed away on 15 October 2025 at the age of 68 in Mumbai. His passing marked the end of an era for Indian mythological television, and Nikitin has spoken in the past about wanting to build his own identity distinct from his father’s fame rather than leaning on the family name.

Pankaj Dheer also appeared in shows like Chandrakanta and The Great Maratha, and in films such as Sadak and Soldier, giving Nikitin a front-row seat to the film industry from childhood.

Nikitin Dheer Wife And Family Life

Nikitin Dheer Wife Kratika Sengar is a well-known television actress in her own right, famous for playing Rani Lakshmi Bai in Jhansi Ki Rani and for her role in Kasauti Zindagii Kay. The two got married on 3 September 2014, and in 2022 — about eight years into their marriage — they welcomed their daughter, Devika Dheer.

Unlike many Bollywood couples, Nikitin and Kratika have largely kept their personal life away from the spotlight, sharing only occasional glimpses of their family on social media.