Our Bureau
New Delhi
Veteran actor Dharmendra was remembered at an emotional prayer meet in New Delhi, where family members, top political leaders and film personalities gathered to pay tribute to the late star. The screen icon, who died on November 24 at 89 after a brief illness, was honoured with floral tributes, prayers and memories of his six-decade career.
The prayer meet was hosted by Dharmendra’s wife, actor and BJP MP Hema Malini, along with their daughters Esha and Ahana Deol, at Dr Ambedkar International Centre on Janpath. The Delhi ceremony followed an earlier memorial in Mumbai on November 27, organised by his son Sunny Deol, making this the second major gathering in the actor’s memory.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda were among the senior leaders who attended and offered floral tributes to Dharmendra. Other ministers, including Jitendra Singh and Prahlad Joshi, also paid their respects, recalling his humility and his brief but noted innings as a parliamentarian.
Hema Malini delivered a deeply emotional speech, breaking down as she spoke about Dharmendra’s life, their years together and the void left by his passing. She described him as a gentle, large-hearted man whose kindness and simplicity endeared him to everyone beyond the screen.
The hall featured intimate photographs of Dharmendra with Hema Malini, Esha and Ahana, alongside a banner reading “Dharmendra, A Legacy That Lives On.” The ceremony included a classical musical performance, a two-minute silence and the screening of a documentary celebrating his journey from village boy to one of Hindi cinema’s most beloved stars.
Speakers highlighted Dharmendra’s iconic roles in films such as “Sholay” and his status as a mass favourite who remained approachable despite superstardom. The Delhi prayer meet, held days after what would have been his 90th birthday on December 8, underlined a legacy that family, colleagues and fans described as “everlasting”.
