Veteran actress Hema Malini is set to celebrate 60 years in Indian cinema with Hema Malini Live in Concert – The Dream Girl’s Diamond Jubilee Charity Concert, to be held on July 10 in Mumbai.

Ahead of the concert, Hema reflected on her six-decade journey in films at a press conference. She recalled how the milestone only truly sank in after show producer Anirudh Chawla pointed it out to her.

“When he pointed out that I had completed 60 years in cinema, my entire journey came rushing back to me — scene by scene. I remembered all the actors I had worked with, all the directors, photographers, cinematographers, comedians, countless heroes, producers, lyricists, music directors and all those unforgettable songs. Everything came flooding back because we discussed all these memories together,” she said.

Hema admitted she initially felt the timing wasn’t right to celebrate the milestone. “I said this was not the time, but Anirudh insisted it was, because we are already losing so many people from the industry. So many great artistes who were once with us are no longer here,” she added.

The evening will also pay tribute to her late husband, Dharmendra. “Dharam ji always shared a wonderful bond with the entire film fraternity, especially the workers. He treated everyone with warmth and affection,” she said.

Adding a charitable element to the celebrations, Rs. 10 lakh from the concert’s ticket proceeds will be donated to support members of CINTAA and FWICE.

The musical evening will feature performances by Kavita Krishnamurti, Suresh Wadkar, Anup Jalota, Anu Malik, Padmini Kolhapure, Vijayta Pandit, Sushma Shrestha, Shabbir Kumar and Sudesh Bhosle.

Several of Hema Malini’s longtime collaborators, including Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Rakesh Roshan, Javed Akhtar, Ramesh Sippy, Subhash Ghai, Umesh Mehra, Sanjay Khan and Anandji Virji Shah, are expected to attend the celebrations and will be felicitated for their contributions to her cinematic journey.

For Esha Deol, the past few months have been a mix of pride and grief. Recently, the actress shared an emotional note after her mother, Hema Malini, accepted the Padma Vibhushan on behalf of her father, Dharmendra, who passed away last November.

The moment, she says, brought back memories and a deep sense of longing. “I expressed my emotions because some moments deserve to be felt and shared. What I felt that day wasn’t just mine – it was something our family, his fans, and so many people who love him were feeling,” Esha says.

Reflecting on Dharmendra receiving the award, Esha says, “Yes, I believe he deserved this honour much earlier. He deserved many more, too – that’s what we feel. But honestly, knowing my father, awards were never his measure of success. The love and respect he received from people was always his greatest achievement.”

Recalling the ceremony, she says, “Seeing my mother accept the award on his behalf was deeply emotional. There was pride, gratitude and, of course, a wish that he could have been there himself.”

Asked about her fondest memory of her father, Esha says choosing one is impossible. “Every phase of my life has had his presence in it. It’s very difficult to pick just one. It’s a lifetime. It’s 44 years of a daughter looking up to that one man, her father. Just to be able to hold his hand, hear his voice – I miss everything about him every single day, and I always will,” she says.

Remembering the nickname she had for him, Esha says, “I always called him my Teddy Bear, and today my bed is filled with teddy bears because it just reminds me of him. The loss never really leaves. You just learn to carry it. I carry him in my heart, and I carry his strength with me wherever I am now.”

Esha says being born to two of Indian cinema’s biggest stars has always felt like a blessing rather than it being a pressure on her career. “I always say I am blessed to be born to such beautiful human beings. My parents are one of a kind and irreplaceable. There can never be another Dharmendra or Hema Malini. I’m proud to be called Hema Malini aur Dharmendra ki beti – that’s the best identity I could have had, and I am grateful for it,” she says.

As a mother to daughters Radhya and Miraya, Esha hopes to pass on the values that she imbibed from her parents. “My kids see the love and respect I have for my parents, and that’s how they learn – to be humble, show respect and be kind,” she says.

For Esha, who will next be seen in the horror-comedy Ghunghat, motherhood has reshaped her priorities, making her more selective about the projects she chooses.

She believes, “As a mother, it’s natural that your priorities change. I want to be present for our children and be actively involved in raising them.”

She acknowledges that the roles coming her way today are different from those she was offered earlier in her career.

“I wouldn’t want to play a teenager in love today, I’m already done with that phase of my career. If I connect with a character and the project excites me, I’m happy to say yes. Today, there are far more interesting and meaningful roles available for actors across age groups, which is wonderful to see,” she shares.

Speaking about life after her separation from Bharat Takhtani, Esha says parenting remains a joint effort.

“I would say that while I am single, I don’t see myself as a single mom. By the grace of God, Bharat and I are very much a team when it comes to co-parenting our daughters. We are a family, and our children will always come first. To give them love and affection and be the strong pillars of support for them, that’s something we are deeply committed to,” she explains.

The 98th Academy Awards missing out on legendary Indian actor, late Dharmendra’s mention in the televised In Memoriam section has not gone down well with his fans. Social media, since Monday morning, has been reacting strongly to the miss on the televised ceremony. His name, along with other Indian icons including the late actor Manoj Kumar and B Saroja Devi, was added to the website, but it seems it all happened too little too late.

When we reach out to actor-politician Hema Malini, Dharmendra’s wife, she resonates with the fan’s sentiment, stating it to be a matter of “shame” for the Oscars to have done this. “Oscars should have mentioned Dharam ji’s name certainly,” she says. However, she also reassures his fans that the late actor placed little importance on such things.

“Personally, Dharam ji never bothered about all this. The love from his fans was above everything. I thank everyone for their concern and for remembering him with such affection even now. The love and respect people have for Dharmendra mean a great deal to us,” she adds.

With a career spanning five decades including hits like Dream Girl (1977), Pratiggya and Sholay (both 1975), Dharmendra was one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema. In February, the BAFTA Awards 2026 paid tribute to the late actor, making him the only Indian actor to be featured in the televised In Memoriam segment. However, the Academy’s failure of this inclusion, despite honouring Indian icons including Irrfan Khan and Sridevi in past, has sparked debate on its commitment to global inclusivity of cinema icons.

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Reiterating her mother’s stance, Esha Deol, tells us, stating that her father’s “heart has always been too generous to be concerned with things like these.” She says, “I don’t feel it would have made a difference to Papa at all... It was never about recognition or status, but about love, kindness, and the place he held in the hearts of people.”

The 78th BAFTAs on Sunday marked a rare moment of global recognition of Indian cinema when late veteran Dharmendra was honoured in the In Memoriam section. Emotional about the tribute, his wife actor-MP Hema Malini (77) tells us, “It was a beautiful moment and he deserves it. It’s a huge honour not just for us, but for the entire country. There will never be another like him.”

There has been much speculation that Hema and her daughters, Esha and Ahana, don’t get along with Dharmendra’s other family: wife, Prakash Kaur, sons Sunny and Bobby, and daughters Vijeta and Ajeita. However, Esha and Ahana’s appearance with Sunny at the screening of his film Border 2 on January 25 helped quieten some of the chatter.

Setting the record straight, Hema shares, “I was invited, too. But I couldn’t make it... Dharam ji Papa hain na, unke liye sab kuch bhi karenge. Be it these bachchas (Esha and Ahana) or those bachchas (Sunny, Bobby). They are very fond of each other. There is no negativity at all between the family (members). When Dharam ji is there, where is the negativity? He was a source of love, strength and values that he has passed on to them. People should understand instead of talking this and that.”

Tuesday (February 24) marked three months since the veteran’s demise. “I think of it and get teary-eyed, but I am being strong,” she says, adding, “I’m keeping myself busy with my dance shows. Dharam ji loved watching me dance; he would say I should never stop because it’s important to be mentally and physically fit. He loved watching the girls dance, too. He appreciated that we are maintaining Indian tradition.”

Ask if she will be seen on screen anytime soon, and she shares, “If any good film role comes my way, I will do it. But kuch achha aata hi nahin; and I’m not sure about OTT.”

Legendary actor Dharmendra’s loss continues to be felt by the film industry. Now, his towering contribution to Indian cinema has been recognised by the Government of India with a posthumous Padma Vibhushan honour.

“This makes me feel so proud of him. He has contributed so much to the film industry, as an actor and as a human being. He would always help people; that was extraordinary. He truly deserves this,” says his wife, actor-politician Hema Malini, with both pride and poignancy ringing in her voice.

However, in the same breath comes a wistful wish, “He deserved it much earlier. I wish they had given it when he was here to receive it in person. I don’t know how we are going to send this message to him. Still, it is a great honour,” she adds.

Recalling Dharmendra’s range and generosity, she shares, “Whether it was comedy or action, he fit into everything. Nowadays, actors hesitate before working with someone who isn’t good enough, but Dharam ji wouldn’t have bothered about whether his friends were financially sound. He would just help them. He deserves this.”

2025 ended on a deeply emotional note for Hema Malini. Her husband, legendary actor Dharmendra passed away on November 24, leaving behind a void that is difficult to fill. As 2026 begins, the actress is slowly returning to work and trying to find her footing again. In an exclusive conversation with us, Hema Malini opens up about the pain of losing a lifelong companion, the distress caused by media speculation during his illness, the much-talked-about separate prayer meetings, and plans surrounding his cherished Lonavala farmhouse.

“It was a companionship that stood the test of time,” says Hema Malini, reflecting on her relationship with Dharmendra. Speaking about how she dealt with the shock of losing him, she shares, "It was an inconsolable shock. It has been terrible because for a month we were struggling when he was not well. We were constantly trying to cope with whatever was happening in the hospital. We were all there—I, Esha, Ahana, Sunny, Bobby—all together. In the past, there had been instances when he went to the hospital and came back home fine. We thought iss baar bhi aa jayenge. He was talking to us nicely. On my birthday (October 16), he even wished me. His birthday was coming up on December 8, when he was turning 90, and we were thinking of celebrating it nicely. The preparations were on, and then suddenly, he was not there. To personally see him sink was very difficult. Nobody should have to go through this kind of situation."

Addressing the misinformation circulating online, Hema Malini urges people not to believe everything they see.

She says, “There is so much content that I am seeing where there are videos of me crying, and my eyes look sore and red. I request people not to fall for all this. After seeing such things, my fans and friends are sending me sympathetic messages, asking me to be strong. But I am a very strong person. I keep my emotions to myself. When my mother passed away 20 years ago, I wondered whether I would be able to live without her, but I did. This is what life teaches us. Time doesn’t wait for anybody. I keep telling my daughters the same thing every time they cry or get upset. We miss Dharam ji every minute. Aaj subah thepla banaya tha, which he loved having with chutney. He liked having idli sambar, and coffee in our house. So, whenever these things are made at home, we miss him deeply. It is important for us to keep him alive in our hearts and memories. We have so many videos together, woh dekhke toh rona aa jata hai.”

The actress admits that the constant media spotlight during the actor’s illness was distressing for the family. “Sunny was getting upset and angry. We all were going through an emotional time and the media was running behind our cars... harassment bahut hua,” she says.

Hema Malini fondly recalls the quiet moments she shared with Dharmendra, especially at his beloved farmhouse in Lonavala. She says, “His farm in Lonavala is extremely beautiful; it feels like a mini Punjab. He has cows there, and we get ghee from the farm. Just two months back, he brought three bottles of ghee for us, saying, ‘Yeh Esha ke liye hai, yeh Ahana ke liye hai, aur yeh tumhare liye.’ He was a loving and wonderful human being. Whenever I was not around, he would spend time in Lonavala. When I went to Mathura or Delhi for work, we used to adjust our schedules, and whenever I returned, he would come back and spend time with me at my house in Mumbai. That is how we have been happily living, along with our grandchildren. Sometimes, he would stay at Ahana’s house as well. Together, we have shared so many beautiful moments. He has been a part of our existence, and suddenly, for the past month, he is no longer there. It is very difficult to come to terms with this. Whenever I had to make a decision, I would ask him.”

As the new year unfolds, Hema says she is ready to return to her responsibilities and creative pursuits. “I am resuming my work now. I am heading to Mathura. I will be starting my performances, shows, aur jo jo kaam hai I will continue doing that because that is what would make Dharam ji happy,” she says.

There was a lot of speculation around the separate prayer meetings in memory of Dharmendra. Reports online speculated on why Hema Malini and her daughters were not present at the prayer meet organized by Sunny, Bobby and their family.

Addressing the issue directly, Hema clarifies, “Yeh humare ghar ka personal mamla hai. We talked to each other. I kept one prayer meet at my home because my group of people are different. Then, I kept one in Delhi because I am in politics, and it was important for me to keep a prayer meeting there for my friends from that field. Mathura is my constituency, and the people there are mad about him. So, I kept a prayer meeting there as well. I am happy with what I did.”

When asked whether Dharmendra’s much-loved Lonavala farmhouse could be turned into a museum for his fans, Hema Malini shares, “I think Sunny is planning to do something on those lines. He will definitely do it. Everything is happening in a nice way. So there’s no need to worry ki yeh do alag families hai, pata nahi kya hoga. Kisiko itni fikr karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Hum log ekdum achche hai.”

When a contestant sits on the hot seat, Amitabh Bachchan — the eternal host of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) — asks the questions appearing on his computer screen. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have questions for the veteran actor. In tonight’s episode of the quiz game show, the cast of Ikkis — Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia, and director Sriram Raghavan — finally satisfy their curiosity. But that’s not all.

The episode also features Amitabh’s grandson Agastya Nanda — who plays Param Vir Chakra recipient Arun Khetarpal in Ikkis — along with his sister Navya Naveli Nanda and mother Shweta Bachchan Nanda, albeit on video.

Giving a low-down on the special episode, KBC’s showrunner Sujata Sanghamitra says, “The highlight [tonight] are the Bachchans [and Nandas] coming together to support Agastya and [remembering] late actor Dharamendra. The whole episode is a mix of fun, emotions, and patriotism. Navya and Shweta also expressed their pride in Agastya’s performance in Ikkis.”

The episode begins with a tribute to Dharmendra, followed by Raghavan, Ahlawat, and Agastya recounting the experience of working with the icon. “Throughout the season whenever there is talk on Dharam ji, Amitabh sir spoke about his close [friend]. He has been very disturbed by the loss. [Often seen reciting his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poems], sir discussed about how Dharam ji wrote his own poetry in the film with the cast,” shares the showrunner.

Sanghamitra recounts how Raghavan compared Agastya to a young Amitabh from his Saat Hindustani (1969) days. “Sriram shared that he met Agastya when he was 21, the same age as the protagonist of his film.”

In the final leg of the episode, an inquisitive Ahlawat takes over the mic to ask Amitabh about his family — “Who is the most pampered? Who keeps track of everybody’s movement?” “[He said that] they have a family group so every morning he knows who is going where. Sir gets embarrassed when questions are asked about the family,” she smiles.

Rahul Dev has built his career on looking and living the part. His transformation into Lt Col Hanut Singh for Ikkis is uncannily close to the real-life war hero that it became a talking point both on set and within the regiment. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film follows Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, a Param Vir Chakra recipient, played by Agastya Nanda, and his role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, climaxing with the Battle of Basantar.

To achieve authenticity, Rahul focused on physicality and detail with the same precision as his performance. He chose to grow the moustache that was integral to Hanut Singh’s identity. He says, “Hanut Singh ji had a very distinct personality, and his moustache was a part of that identity. Growing it helped me connect with his energy and reminded me of the responsibility I was stepping into. This physical process builds patience, too. Luckily, my facial structure matched his and the army team was pleased with how I looked.”

His preparation also involved reshaping his fitness routine to match the commander’s lean build. Rahul shares, “Hanut Singh ji was very thin, so I stopped exercising and followed a strict diet because I did not want to look fuller.”

Beyond physical transformation, Ikkis carries emotional weight for another reason. It will possibly mark the last big-screen appearance of Dharmendra, whose passing on November 12 left the country grieving a legend.

Rahul says, “There will be one person like that in several decades. Look at his work; it speaks for itself. He was perfection and the most handsome man. What made him extraordinary was that every single co-actor had only good things to say about him and that is extremely rare in our industry.”

What Rahul remembers most vividly is the warmth Dharmendra radiated off-screen. He shares, “You could go to meet someone else, and he would make you sit with him instead. You would never feel like you were meeting him for the first time. He made you feel at home instantly. Woh itne pyaar se chehra pakadte the aur unki hatheliyon mein chehra hi chhup jaata tha. He loved people with pure affection. Ek hota hai na ki ek aadmi dene hi bas pyaar aaya hai.”

He adds, “They do not make men like him anymore. Although I am extremely fond of Bhaiyya (Sunny Deol) and Bobby, emulating Dharam ji and being like him, even for his sons, would be next to impossible.”

When Ikkis opens on January 1, it will, among other things, remind us of what Hindi cinema lost in 2025. Sriram Raghavan’s directorial venture, led by Agastya Nanda, will mark the final on-screen appearance of Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24. In the swansong, we’ll also see the superstar’s last dance, in a qawwali track.

Featuring Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat, the song was shot in Pune in May 2024. It apparently sees the veteran actor’s character going to his college reunion.

A source from the unit said, “Initially, it plays in the background as Dharmendra’s character catches up with his friends. Then it moves to the foreground as his friends get him to the dance floor and he shakes a leg. It’s a fantastic moment! While the college is shown to be in Lahore in the narrative, producer Dinesh Vijan and Sriram filmed it in a Pune college.”

In Ikkis, Dharmendra portrayed the father of Nanda’s character, Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal. Working with him on the number was a moment of pride for choreographer Vijay Ganguly. Remembering the 89-year-old actor as being “full of life”,

Ganguly told mid-day, “Shooting with Dharmendra was amazing as he was vibrant and full of life. He was awake till we completed the song at 4 am.”

What made the collaboration sweeter was the fact that their association went way back. The choreographer, who has designed two songs in the biopic, added, “It was a moment of nostalgia for both of us. Dharam ji had done a film earlier with my father [filmmaker Anil Ganguly] called Dushman Devta [1991]. During the shoot, he remembered my father fondly. He told me he was a kind man and that he enjoyed working with him.”

Dharmendra passed away a couple of weeks before his 90th birthday which would have been on December 8. He is the only actor to give SEVEN HITS in a year and not only once but it happened twice in 1973 and 1987. In 1987, he had 10 releases including two long delayed films and seven of them scored at the box office including the top grosser of the year, HUKUMAT.

The 1973 record would hold the edge to 1987 as the films were bigger but still to get seven HITS in a year is pretty much unthinkable. It is nearly impossible even today and even that time the norm was 3-4 films a day. The films in 1987 were generally action films catering to the masses and apart from HUKUMAT. they were multistarrers but Dharmendra was the main selling point of these films. Even if the role was lesser in screen time, he would be dominating the posters.

The 1980's was pretty similar to the situation today when metro audience had shifted to video and today that reads streaming but the industry was able to shift fast enough to the needs of the audience which has not been the case today. The early eighties saw Dharmendra delivering less HITS than earlier though all the films opened very well. But in 1987, it came together as the openings were huge and the films sustained as well. These seven hits in a year came when it was the 27th year of his career which itself is also unthinkable as it will not be the peak of the career.

The 1987 releases for Dharmendra went as follows.

Hukumat - Blockbuster

Aag Hi Aag - Super Hit

Loha - Hit

Watan Ke Rakhwale - Hit

Insaniyat Ke Dushman - Hit

Insaaf Kaun Karega - Hit

Dadagiri - Hit

Insaf Ki Pukaar - Average

Jaan Hatheli Pe - Average (Long Delayed)

Mera Dharam Mera Karam - Flop (Long Delayed)

Mard Ki Zabaan - Flop (Extended Guest Role)

Dharmendra with his aunt Preetam Kaur in Dangon village

Mumbai: The first confirmation of actor Dharmendra's death Monday came when his daughter Esha Deol followed by wife Hema Malini reached Pawan Hans crematorium in Juhu to prepare for the final rites. The family did not issue a formal statement about his demise.

Shortly afterwards, the star's remains were brought to the cremation ground by ambulance. An attendant seated beside the driver held the earthen pot used for the ritual.

A large contingent of fans began gathering outside the crematorium. Among celebrities, Juhu residents Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan were the first to arrive followed by Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Shabana Azmi. Yesteryear stars Saira Banu and Biswajit also showed up to pay respects.

Saira Banu later recalled, “Dilip saab valued and loved him like his own blood and Dharam ji was inspired to get into movies inspired by Dilip saab. He would come over and they’d share each other’s lives and issues till 2 am.”

Sunny Deol as the eldest son performed the Mukhagni ceremony. The Deol clan dissolved in tears, especially younger son Bobby and grandson Karan.

Sadly, Dharam ji's fans and even his colleagues from the film industry did not receive information of his death in time and began arriving at Pawan Hans only to find that the funeral was completed way before. Celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh too came in the afternoon.

Fans expressed a wish to see their favourite ‘He-Man’ up close one last time. An old acquaintance displayed a picture of himself with the star that dated back decades. He sought to know if the gates of the cremation ground would be opened to allow a final darshan.

Another lady escorted by her young daughter said, "We knew the end was near given his deteriorating condition and ventilator support over the past weeks. Still his passing has caused deep sorrow. The younger generation knows Amitabh Bachchan as the only superstar. But Dharmendra preceded him."

The final farewell was marked by simplicity. The ambulance bearing Dharmendra's remains was not bedecked with flowers nor was an opportunity granted to people to see him one last time at a formal wake. The Deols eschewed this ritual.

Onlookers speculated that the family was keen to avoid media frenzy and large crowds given the false alarm over the star's death that erupted a few days ago.

Among those who mourned him were Shatrughan Sinha, who expressed his grief saying, “Heart broken, pained & deeply saddened by the passing away of our dearest family friend, our elder brother, people's hero.”

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Dangon/Sahnewal/Ludhiana: Here, every house has its own story of Dharmendra. Every family feels he is theirs. He is their 'apna Dharam'.

From the time news broke that Bollywood's original strongman was critically ill, Dangon village - Dharmendra's ancestral place, around an hour's drive from Ludhiana - had been praying for his health. Nothing prepares you to take such news, said Dharmendra's nephew, Buta Singh.

Buta, 35, told TOI, "My grandmother (Dharmendra's aunt) was already tense after his condition deteriorated earlier this month and now she is in deep shock. All of us are anguished. But we are proud he made our little village and Punjab proud."

The actor's aunt, Preetam Kaur, 90, said, "I was already in so much pain after my son Shingara Singh died during Covid in 2021. Now Dharam is gone too." She recalled the times she went to Mumbai and he treated her like royalty. "You know, he gave me everything needed for my son Manjit's marriage." She said Dharmendra was fond of Shingara and the two would often chat on video calls.

Manjit said his brother Gurjit lived with Dharmendra's family in Mumbai for two years. He recalled that when Dharmendra last visited the village in 2014, he took the village soil and touched it to his forehead. "We were hoping to celebrate his birthday on Dec 8, but now we are preparing for a remembrance meeting," said Amritpal Singh, former sarpanch of Dangon.

The house in Sahnewal where Dharmendra once lived on rent is a landmark in these parts. It has changed hands since but the owner has kept a picture of the way it was when he bought it, and named it "Dharminder House".

Manjeet Kaur said it was in a poor condition when they bought it around three years ago. "Sunny Deol was born in this house. Yes, we do feel proud that we live in the same building that was once Dharmendra ji's," said Manjeet.

"We always wished he would come to the house and meet us. Unfortunately that never was to be," she said, adding that they have pictures of the old house and Sunny's room framed.

TOI met a former neighbour, 86-year-old Girdhari Lal, who said the actor's younger brother Ajit Singh Deol was his classmate in school. "Dharmendra's father Kewal Krishan ji was my teacher as he taught both in govt primary and high school in Sahnewal," said Lal.

He recalled that before becoming a star, Dharmendra would go to a salon in Chaura Bazar in Ludhiana and spend hours there as he was quite fashion savvy. "He was always very friendly. A man with a big heart. Even after he made it big in Bollywood, he hosted me whenever I went to Mumbai for training. He treated me and everyone who knew him in his early days just as friends do," said Lal, who retired as a branch manager with LIC.

In Sahnewal, it seems there's no dearth of people whose life Dharmendra had touched. TOI was leaving 'Dharminder House' when a stranger approached and said, "You want to know about Dharmendra? Take it from me, he was a giant among men." Asked for his name, he said: "I don't matter. We are Dharmendra's people. I asked him once how he made it big, and he smiled and said, 'fate'."

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Ludhiana: As Bollywood star Dharmendra spent many years of his early life in Sahnewal near Ludhiana, the area residents where his family lived are in a state of shock over the death of the Bollywood star. Dharmendra's father Kewal Krishan Deol was a teacher in a govt school at Sahnewal for many years.

Talking to TOI, 86-year-old Girdhari Lal, a retired senior branch manager from LIC who lives in Mohalla Khatriyan yards away from the house where Dharmendra's family lived on rent, said he was shocked beyond words and was unable to express his pain. He added that he was very tense for many days after he came to know about Dharmendra's ill health, and today his worst fears came true as they had lost him.

Girdhari Lal shared that Dharmendra's younger brother Ajit Singh Deol (Jeet) was his class fellow and they studied together till high school. He added that Dharmendra's father was his teacher as he taught both in govt primary and high school in Sahnewal.

Lal recalled that before becoming a star, Dharmendra would go to a saloon in Chaura Bazar in Ludhiana and would sit there for hours as he was quite fashion savvy. He added that after Dharmendra became a star, twice he (Girdhari Lal) went to Mumbai for training where Dharmendra hosted him and treated him very well.

Chipping in, Manju Sharma, wife of Girdhari Lal, said Dharmendra's mother Satwant Kaur was a great lady and the family was nice. She added that they did pray for his recovery, but unfortunately, Dharmendra passed away.

Girdhari Lal said that Master Kewal Krishan worked as a teacher in Lalton as well before he went to Phagwara, where the family lived for around 10 years. He added that Master Kewal Krishan's brother-in-law's son Varinder was also a movie star and Dharmendra's brother Ajit also worked in "Khote Sikke" movie, but couldn't make it big in movies and joined the railways.

Meanwhile, the house where the family lived in Sahnewal is renovated now. Manjeet Kaur, who along with her son and his family owns the house, said the house was damaged so they had to get it renovated after they bought it around three years ago. She added that Sunny Deol was born in one of the room's of the house, and they feel proud of the fact that Dharmendra once lived there.

"He did come here once around 10-12 years ago. He should have lived long and we wished he should have come here and met us," she said. She added that they had got a picture of the damaged house and the room where Bobby Deol was born framed.

Sandeep Kumar, an area resident, said during his last visit to Sahnewal, the actor had visited many parts of the area. He added that people in Sahnewal loved him a lot and were shocked by his demise.

Meanwhile, residents of Nasrali village near Khanna, where Dharmendra was born, are also saddened by the death of the Bollywood star. A resident, Master Jaswant Singh, said Dharmendra's father taught in the village for two years. He added that they did an ‘Ardas' for Dharmendra's well-being at a religious place in the village after he became ill, but are upset with his demise.

Master Jaswant Singh said that the condition of the house where the family lived is in bad shape. The villagers said that they pray for peace to the departed soul and courage to his family and fans to bear such an irreparable loss.

Imagining the world of Apne (2007) without Dharmendra is hard not only for the legend’s fans, but also for producer Deepak Mukut and director Anil Sharma. In fact, after the veteran actor’s demise on November 24, Sharma, in a media interaction, said that Apne 2 would be shelved. However, the latest update is that the sequel — starring Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and Karan Deol — is being rewritten since the script originally had Dharmendra in a pivotal role.

Talking to mid-day, Mukut reveals that he had narrated the script to Dharmendra only a few months ago. The veteran actor was gung-ho about reuniting with his sons on the silver screen, and more importantly, about sharing screen space with his grandson Karan.

He shares, “Dharam ji was very excited about the sequel. It was one of his wishes to make Apne 2 with his children. We are reworking the script now, which will be told from the point of view of Sunny and Bobby’s characters. There will be some changes as Dharam ji is no more, and we’ll miss him dearly. We are working on incorporating Dharam ji’s character in some way.”

The second instalment will be the producer’s “shraddhanjali” to the late actor. “If I cannot make a movie with Dharam ji, I can pay my respects to him through it. Apne 2 will be made and it will be a tribute to Dharam ji,” emphasizes Mukut.

A family drama, Apne told the story of Dharmendra’s Baldev Singh Choudhary, who hoped to regain his lost glory as a boxer through his sons. The next edition will take the original story forward. “It is a continuation of the original, and Karan will be introduced as Angad’s [Sunny’s character] son,” reveals the producer. One wonders why Sharma announced shelving the sequel when work on it is ongoing.

Ask Mukut, and he says, “I don’t know why Anil said it. When I asked him, he flatly denied having said that the sequel is shelved.”

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Dharmendra and Sunny Deol appeared together in ‘Sultanat’ (1986) and ‘Kshatriya’ (1993). The veteran actor had a cameo in ‘Sunny’ (1984), but didn’t share screen space with his son.

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‘Apne’ was the first film that saw Dharmendra share screen space with his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol. The trio then appeared in the ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’ franchise, which had three instalments.

Days after veteran actor Dharmendra’s private funeral sparked widespread curiosity, filmmaker Hamad Al Reyami from the UAE has shared new details on why the family chose to keep the rites restricted. In an Instagram post that has since been widely circulated, Hamad recounted his recent visit to actor Hema Malini during the mourning period. He wrote that their meeting on the third day of rituals was “painful and heartbreaking”, adding that he could sense “inner turmoil” in her as she spoke about Dharmendra’s final weeks.

According to Hamad, Hema said in a trembling voice, “I wish I had been at the farm the way I was with Dharmendra two months ago… I wish I had seen him there.” She also expressed regret that fans could not see the actor one last time but stressed that the family’s decision honoured Dharmendra’s own lifelong wishes.

Dharmendra, 89, died on November 24. The family opted for a private cremation, did not release photographs and refrained from issuing a formal announcement on social media, a move that left many fans puzzled. Hema told Hamad that Dharmendra “never wanted anyone to see him weak or ill” and often hid his pain even from close relatives. “After a person passes away, the decision rests with the family,” she reportedly said.

Hema also explained that a private farewell ultimately spared fans the distress of seeing the actor in his deteriorated condition. “You couldn’t have borne to see him in that state… his final days were cruel and painful,” she told Hamad before wiping away a tear.

Right next to the parking lot at the IFFI (International Film Festival of India) venue in Goa – just past the security checkpoint – stands the Sholay motorcycle, displayed inside a glass enclosure. The iconic 1942 BSA WM20 is pulling more fans than the red-carpet this year. The motorcycle, which Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra rode through the Yeh Dosti song sequence, has been brought out of the archives by Karnataka’s Department of Information and Public Relations to celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary, and cinephiles can’t get enough of it.

Cinephiles heading to screenings pause to pose beside the motorcycle, snapping photos of the registration plate – MYB 3047 from the erstwhile Mysore state. Most of them are heard asking the same questions: “Is this really the bike from Sholay ?”, “Does it still run?” and “Is it a replica?”

Replica or not (yes, it’s the real bike), very few installations across the festival grounds have drawn cinephiles at IFFI like this motorcycle. Following Dharmendra’s demise on November 25, more festival-goers have been flocking to see it.

Grace, a cinephile who went behind the motorcycle to get a shot with it, said, “If not for the Sholay poster, we would’ve walked right past it. It’s so iconic, I can’t believe it’s the same motorcycle. But I wish the sidecar was there too!” Another festivalgoer, Jacob Verghese, said, “No matter which generation you are from, you know the Yeh Dosti song. You know that bike. Seeing it here at IFFI is like a piece of movie history on display.”

The song Yeh Dosti was shot over 20 days. Director Ramesh Sippy and cinematographer Dwarka Divecha added a sidecar to the bike to emphasize the friendship and filmed the sequence with a 180-degree effect – making viewers feel as if they were riding with Jai and Veeru.

For Dharmendra, 1973 was arguably the greatest year that any actor has ever seen. The other years which are comparable to Dharmendra is Dharmendra himself in 1973 and Amitabh Bachchan in 1978 and 1981. Rajesh Khanna in 1970 and Jeetendra in 1980 deserve a mention but they are probably not at the level of the ones mentioned above.

In 1973, Dharmendra had eight releases out of which only one film did not do well and that was BLACKMAIL but even this film was coverage in the bigger circuits. Also what has to be noted is all the films were practically as SOLO hero flicks with YAADON KI BAARAAT having some newcomers for company.

There are seven HITS out of eight films and four of these films are a big HITS. KEEMAT is good example of many Dharmendra films which were not quite upto the mark in terms of content. This film had a share of 58.40 lakhs in the first six months across India.

At that time, it was called the billing. So, the all India billing was 58.40 lakhs in six months which very average. But by January 1979, this billing was 81 lakhs as the film kept on bringing healthy shares in West Bengal, Bihar, Assa, Odisha, CP Berar, CI and Rajasthan. The business of KEEMAT was less than JHEEL KE US PAAR and JWAR BHATA in the first six months of release but eventually finished above them.

A film which may not have been of great quality and was thumbed down by the trade eventually did HIT business and it was not only KEEMAT but many other films which did the same especially the ones released in the 1965-1975 period. We always talk about reach today as that would give you a bigger audience and the REACH of Dharmendra was insane which showed up in collections as films went into mofussil towns. This was not just action films but even likes of MERE HAMDAM MERE DOST, IZZAT and RESHAM KI DORI.

Dharmendra releases in 1973 were as follows.

Jugnu - Blockbuster

Yaadon Ki Baaraat - Blockbuster

Loafer - Super Hit

Kahani Kismat Ki - Super Hit

Keemat - Hit

Jheel Ke Us Paar - Hit

Jwar Bhata - Hit

Blackmail - Below Average

Fans of Sholay will have to wait longer to watch the remastered version of the iconic 1975 classic, originally scheduled for a special screening at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). HT City has learnt that the screening has now been called off. The cancellation comes at a time when fans are already grieving the loss of its beloved star Dharmendra. The veteran actor, who played Veeru in Sholay, died on November 24 at the age of 89.

An official source tells us that the screening was scrapped due to “technical glitches from the makers’ side.” Director Ramesh Sippy and actor Hema Malini were expected to walk the red carpet for the event. However, with Dharmendra’s deteriorating health over the past few weeks, Hema’s appearance was already uncertain. Many had, in fact, initially attributed this as the reason for the screening not happening.

The film’s 4K version will release in theatres on December 12. Meanwhile, Ramesh Sippy’s session on 50 years of Sholay will take place as scheduled at the festival.

The Hindi film industry lost one of its biggest legends on Monday morning as Dharmendra bid farewell due to age related issues. He was 89 and approaching his 90th birthday. He saw a career which spanned 65 years as his first film DIL BHI TERA HUM BHI TERE released in November 1960.

The greatness of Dharmendra was that it was insane stardom without the noise and that's a rarity for someone who saw such heights of popularity which probably no one or very few saw. There was a humbleness about the stardom and the public probably saw this honesty and glow on his face also to make him their favourite. There are so many of his films which actually were not good enough to be HITS but they were as the public just wanted to see Dharmendra especially when these films went down into the smaller centres which was months after initial release. The reach of the man was phenomenal.

Today, everybody knows in the industry that the noise is such that its far louder than the achievements but here was a man who had that self respect and could never go to PR to push his achievements and there were many one after the other. Dharmendra dominated the 70's but there were no tags of megastar or superstar but the public never cares for these tags. 

The 70's was dominated by multi-starrers and Dharmendra did many of them but when he was in them, it could be clearly be seen he was leading them, no matter who the other actor was. So, no tag was needed as the far as the public was concerned which made him the peoples' favourite. He was the biggest star ever seen in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh and unless some miracle comes along, he will remain the biggest forever. Today you have tags like India's biggest superstar or India's biggest star but before India which states do these superstars rule.

The early eighties did see some films not doing well probably because as he got into his son Sunny Deol's launch vehicle BETAAB and the concentration was fully on that. Yet, Dharmendra was Dharmendra and the initials were still huge and post BETAAB, he signed better films and most of them came out in 1987 and it was HIT after HIT 

The early nineties was when the stardom was on the wane; there were 40-60 different Dharmendra films playing in cinemas across the country. This did not happen once but in quite a few weeks in the 1989-1993 period. This has not happened with anyone else and also will never happen again. The affection of the public remained even if the quality of movies had gone down.

The box office records were aplenty and the HIT list is bigger than anyone else but its not the time to go into that as the biggest takeaway from a legendary career is how to be in the top echelons of all time and remain there with a humbleness and even an embarrassment when praised and and without creating noise around your stardom. The screen image was huge but here there was also a huge real life personality unaffected by the mega success and changing times within the industry over the decades. An actor like this will not come again.

Slowly these legends who made the Hindi film industry what it is are passing away. Obviously, the industry is not the same Hindi film industry anymore as its called by a name which is actually in a way a profanity given by the west and maybe it even this deserves this name today. But just for these legends who gave so much you hope it can get back to its roots one day and become the Hindi film industry again.

Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who worked with the late actor Dharmendra on seven films, called the veteran’s passing on Monday at the age of 89 as a personal and professional loss. The director, who had planned a sequel to Apne (2007), states that the project can no longer proceed “without his idol.”

The 61-year-old says, “Apne to apno ke bina nahi ho sakti. Without Dharam ji, it’s impossible to make the sequel. Everything was on track and the script was ready, but he left us. Some dreams remain unfulfilled. Without him, it’s not possible!”

Sharma directed Dharmendra in Hukumat (1987), Elaan-e-Jung (1989), Farishtey (1991), and Tahalka (1992), later producing Policewala Gunda (1995), directing Apne, and a cameo in Singh Saab The Great (2013). He also worked with Dharmendra’s sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol.

Recalling their last meeting Sharma says, “I met him in early October and he said: ‘Anil, koi acchi kahani laa, acchi film karni hai…camera meri mehbooba hai, mujhe yaad karti hai. Mujhe jana hai uske samne.’” The three Deols were set to reunite on screen with the sequel after nearly two decades.

Sharma first met Dharmendra on the sets of The Burning Train (1980) as an assistant. “He put his hand on my head and said, ‘mehnat se kaam karna’. When I narrated Hukumat, he approved the story in 10 minutes. ” Recalling the shoot, Sharma said: “Dharam ji’s connection with his fans was incredible. He was a great actor — unaware of the legend he was, and will remain, even after he has gone!”.”

Bollywood legend Dharmendra, 89, passed away at his Mumbai residence on Monday, November 24, following a month-long illness. His eldest son, Sunny Deol, conducted the last rites at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Vile Parle at 1:30 pm, with members of the Deol family by his side. Joining them were Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Abhishek Bachchan, and Agastya Nanda, among others.

The actor's health had been cause for concern since he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for breathing difficulties, on October 31. Well-placed sources informed mid-day that it was initially described as a precautionary, routine age-related health check-up, but when his respiratory problems persisted, it indicated serious distress to his lungs. On November 1, he had been placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for closer monitoring.

On November 10, Dharmendra’s condition had deteriorated further, which is when he was put on ventilator support in the ICU. However, speculative news reports on his health led to immediate pushback from his family, who claimed he was “stable and improving.”

In the early hours of November 12, Dharmendra was discharged from the hospital. His treating physician, Dr Pratit Samdani, confirmed to the media that the family had decided to continue his recovery at home. He said, “Dharmendra-ji was discharged around 7:30 am. He will be treated at home, as the family has decided to give him treatment at home.”

On the same day, the family also issued a public appeal, requesting privacy amid swirling media speculation. They said, “Mr Dharmendra has been discharged from the hospital and will continue his recovery at home. We kindly request the media and the public to refrain from any further speculation and to respect his and the family’s privacy during this time. We appreciate everyone’s love, prayers, and good wishes for his continued recovery, good health, and long life. Please respect him because he loves you.”

According to sources close to the family, Dharmendra’s health was still fragile after leaving the hospital, with regular checkups continuing at his Juhu residence, even while prep for his 90th birthday was underway.

On the closing night of the Jagran Film Festival, collaborator and filmmaker Anil Sharma told the press, “He is doing much better than before. Please pray for him. God willing, we will celebrate his birthday on December 8, with much fanfare.” Unfortunately, this was not to be.

Dharmendra is survived by his wives, Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini, and children: Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeta Deol, Ajeeta Deol, Ahana Deol, and Esha Deol. Dharmendra’s family said that his final days were spent surrounded by loved ones as he battled his health issues quietly.

Dharmendra became the template of a leading man for a whole generation. He was able to bring warmth and toughness, which rewired how heroes were portrayed in Hindi cinema through the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. He effortlessly transitioned from being an action hero to a romantic lead, showing why versatility is essential to stardom. 

In pop culture, Dharmendra turned into a larger-than-life figure. The “He-Man of Bollywood” label stuck partly because he embodied the classic strong-but-soft archetype. But his movies reflected his range. Sholay is the obvious crown jewel, where his chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan helped define buddy-action films. But it’s the comedies like Chupke Chupke that made him a household name. Films like Phool Aur Patthar, Dharamveer, Dreamgirl, Blackmail, Anupama, Bandini, Satyakam, and Seeta Aur Geeta showed the world how he could switch between genres effortlessly — going from small dramas to blockbuster action fare to grand romance, even supporting parts in strong films, all for a good movie in his repertoire.

His last film is the upcoming war drama Ikkis, based on the life of Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal. Helmed by Sriram Raghavan, it is set to release on December 25.