India Mourns Dharmendra: Stars, Leaders And Fans Bid Farewell To’ Bollywood’s He-Man
MUMBAI– The final journey of legendary actor Dharmendra was marked by an overwhelming outpouring of love, respect, and remembrance. His wife, veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini, along with his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and daughter Esha Deol, arrived at the Pawan Hans crematorium to perform the last rites. His passing marks the end of an era in Bollywood, and tributes have been pouring in from fans, colleagues, and admirers who grew up watching his unforgettable performances and celebrating his extraordinary cinematic journey.
A steady stream of well-known personalities visited the crematorium to pay their respects. Among those spotted were Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, and Govinda, who joined the long list of industry members bidding a final farewell to the iconic star. They were joined by Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Shatrughan Sinha, Jeetendra Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, Raj Thackeray, Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Vicky Kaushal, Kapil Sharma, Shahid Kapoor, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Gurdas Maan, Navjot Singh Sidhu, and many others who came together to bid farewell.
Political leaders also joined the mourning, acknowledging Dharmendra’s contributions both to cinema and public life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi expressed their grief and highlighted the deep cultural imprint the actor leaves behind.
The cricket fraternity, too, joined the nation in paying homage. Former players and sports icons including Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Harbhajan Singh shared heartfelt tributes, remembering Dharmendra’s warmth, simplicity, and his long-standing connection with India’s cricketing culture. Several domestic cricket events observed moments of silence, reflecting the respect and affection he enjoyed beyond the film world.
In a mark of collective respect, several entertainment and public events scheduled for the day were cancelled or postponed. The Dhurandhar program was called off, and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) paused its scheduled screenings and activities to honor the late actor. Television channels halted regular programming to air extended tribute segments, while film promotions, media interactions, and industry gatherings across Mumbai were cancelled as the fraternity united in mourning the loss of one of Indian cinema’s most cherished icons.
Fans gathered outside the crematorium in large numbers, many carrying photographs of the star, while some chanted his popular film dialogues. Messages from across the world flooded social media, celebrating the actor’s versatility — from intense dramas and patriotic roles to evergreen romantic hits.
Dharmendra, born Dharam Singh Deol in 1935, made his Hindi film debut in 1960 and went on to become one of Indian cinema’s most enduring heroes. With classics like Sholay, Satyakam, Chupke Chupke, Anupama, and Yaadon Ki Baaraat, he built a repertoire that remains unmatched in range and impact. His contributions as a producer and his work as a parliamentarian further cemented his standing as a beloved public figure. (IANS)
