The film industry has been gathering in waves to honour Dharmendra whose passing on November 24 left a profound silence in Bollywood’s legacy corridors. In New Delhi, Hema Malini organised a solemn prayer gathering that became less a ritual, and more a heartfelt tribute to the man she shared her life and screen with. Standing alongside daughters Esha and Ahana, she painted a vivid portrait of Dharmendra’s spirit recalling, “He was cheerful and affectionate; even while standing at the peak of fame, he never considered himself different from others. He always remained grounded. He spoke to people of every background with immense love, affection and respect. Such a person was Dharamji. We worked together in nearly 45 films. ‘Hum dono ko ek hit pair ke roop mein industry pyaar karti thi aur janta ne bhi humein khoob pyaar diya.’ His life is a celebration. He has influenced so many people in the world and inspired countless others. The entire industry is mad about him.” This remembrance followed an earlier memorial in Mumbai hosted by his sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, a gathering that drew some of the biggest names in Hindi cinema from Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan to Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and many others who arrived to pay their respects to the beloved star.
