Our Bureau
Mumbai
Hema Malini and daughters Esha and Ahana Deol missed a high-profile prayer meet for veteran actor Dharmendra, titled “Celebration of Life” which was organized by his first wife Prakash Kaur and sons Sunny and Bobby Deol at Taj Lands End hotel on November 27. Instead, Hema hosted a private bhajan sandhya and Bhagavad Gita path at her residence, drawing celebrities like Mahima Chaudhry, Sunita Ahuja, and Esha’s ex-husband Bharat Takhtani. The dual ceremonies sparked speculation over family dynamics following Dharmendra’s death on November 24 at age of 89.
The “Celebration of Life” event, starting at 5:30 pm, attracted Bollywood heavyweights including Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, Shabana Azmi, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth Malhotra, Suniel Shetty, Ameesha Patel, Fardeen Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Sonu Sood, Anu Malik, Subhash Ghai, and Abbas-Mustan. Singer Sonu Nigam performed Dharmendra’s iconic songs as tribute. Prakash Kaur attended with children Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta, Ajeeta, and grandsons Karan and Rajveer; Abhay Deol was also present. Sunny and Bobby appeared emotional throughout.
Meanwhile, a pandit was seen entering Hema’s home around the same time. Sunita Ahuja confirmed to media: “Hema ji had kept a path of Bhagavad Gita and bhajans. So, we all listened to the bhajans. I couldn’t stop crying in front of Hema ji.” Some attendees reportedly visited Hema post-event.
Dharmendra, married to Prakash Kaur since 1954 (with whom he had four children), wed Hema in 1980, fathering Esha and Ahana. Hema’s X post mourned him as “loving husband, adoring father… everything to me,” highlighting his humility and enduring legacy amid her “indescribable” loss.
