New Delhi [India], December 11 (ANI): Actor and politician Hema Malini on Thursday organised a prayer meet in Delhi for her late husband and legendary star Dharmendra, who died at the age of 89 on November 24.
Several members from the political fraternity and the film industry marked their presence at the prayer meet, honouring the late legend. Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda, and scores of ministers and parliamentarians were spotted offering condolences to Hema Malini and her daughters, Esha and Ahana, at the prayer meet.
Many even remembered Dharmendra with heartfelt words in their speeches, but it was Hema Malini’s tribute that left everyone truly emotional.
During the ceremony, an emotional Hema Malini stepped up to the podium and delivered a profoundly moving tribute. Her voice trembled as each word carrying the weight of her memories of Dharmendra.
“Aaj ke is prarthna sabha mein main aap sabka swagat karte hue, main bahut hi bhavuk ho rahi hoon. I never imagined that a moment would come in my life when I would have to host a prayer meeting, especially for my Dharam ji. The whole world is mourning his passing, but for me, it is an inconsolable shock,” she added.
She also talked about Dharmendra always supported her.
“Jis shakhs ke saath maine kai filmon mein pyaar ka abhinay kiya, wahi mere jeevansaathi ban gaye. Humara pyaar sachcha tha, toh hum kisi bhi paristhiti ka saamna karne ki himmat thi. Hum dono ne shaadi ki. Woh mere liye ek bohot hi samarpeet jeevansaathi baney. Woh mere liye prernadayak ek mazboot stambh bankar har shan, har kadam pe mere saath khadey rahe,” Hema Malini recalled.
Hema Malini went on to speak about Dharmendra’s unfinished dream of writing a book. She reminisced about his innate gift for poetry and how he longed to turn his heartfelt words into a published work.
“Over time, a hidden aspect of his personality emerged.. jab woh Urdi ki Shayari karne lage. Unki khaas baat yahi thi koi bhi paristithi ho woh uske anusar turant ek sher suna dete the…yeh unki khoobi thi. I often told him he should write a book – his fans would have loved it. So, he was very serious about it and was planning everything but woh kaam par adhura reh gaya.”
Dharmendra’s passing marked the end of an era in Hindi cinema. Over the decades, he earned admiration for his versatility across genres and became one of the industry’s most loved stars.
One of the most iconic actors of his time, Dharmendra made his mark in Hindi cinema with memorable performances in films like ‘Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke’, ‘Sholay,’ ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Ayee Milan Ki Bela’, and ‘Anupama’, among others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was among those who paid tribute to Dharmendra after it was announced he had died at home in Mumbai on November 24.PM Modi said that his death marked the end of an era in Indian cinema.
“He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played. The manner in which he played diverse roles struck a chord with countless people,” he wrote on X.
Superstar Rajinikanth gave “farewell” to his late “friend” with a heartfelt post, “Farewell, my friend. I will always remember your golden heart and the moments we shared. Rest in peace, Dharam ji. My deepest condolences to his family.”The veteran star also worked in films such as ‘Kaise Kahoon Ke… Pyaar Hai’ (2003) and ‘Kis Kis Ki Kismat’ (2004), both of which were box office failures.
After this, he took a brief hiatus and returned with three films in 2007. These were – Anurag Basu’s drama film ‘Life in a… Metro’, Anil Sharma’s sports drama ‘Apne’ and Sriram Raghavan’s neo-noir thriller ‘Johnny Gaddaar’. Both ‘Life in a… Metro’ and ‘Apne’ proved to be critical and commercial successes.
In 2023, he surprised everyone with his stellar performance in Karan Johar’s directorial ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’.
With his role, he literally proved that age is just a number.A much-discussed highlight from the film was his kiss with co-star Shabana Azmi, a moment that many hailed as a tender, progressive portrayal of love in later years, and one that took audiences pleasantly by surprise.
Even Dharmendra acknowledged the much-hyped scene. In a previous interview with ANI, the veteran star humorously recalled a conversation he had with co-star Ranveer Singh, saying, “Maine Ranveer ko bola, Ranveer, Rocky aur Rani ki prem kahani me, tune to bohot kisses ki hain, or meri ek hi kiss ne hila dala logo ko.”
Dharmendra’s footprint stretches beyond the silver screen. He was a Member of Parliament from Bikaner (2004-2009), a judge on the reality show “India’s Got Talent” (2011), and has appeared in historical series ‘Taj: Divided by Blood’.He was also seen in Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon’s romantic comedy ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’, which reminded a new generation of his effortless charm. His last film ‘Ikkis’ is set to be released on December 25. (ANI)
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