Delhi witnessed an outpouring of emotion on Thursday as Hema Malini led a solemn prayer ceremony in memory of her husband and Hindi cinema icon Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24 at the age of 89. The gathering, held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in Janpath, transformed into a poignant celebration of the actor’s luminous life, his unmatched career, and the love he inspired across generations.
From early afternoon, family members, close friends, film personalities and senior political leaders began streaming into the venue, each carrying their own memories of the legendary star. Among the attendees were Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju and Ashwini Vaishnaw, BJP President JP Nadda, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and several actors including Kangana Ranaut, Ranjeet and Ravi Kishan.
Dharmendra’s daughters Esha and Ahana Deol, along with son-in-law Vaibhav Vohra and Esha’s former husband Bharat Takhtani, stood united as the extended family paid homage to the beloved patriarch. When Hema Malini stepped up to address the gathering, she struggled to hold back her tears. Her voice quivered as she spoke of a companionship that spanned 57 years — one that began on film sets and eventually blossomed into one of Indian cinema’s most cherished love stories.
“I never imagined I would one day host a prayer meet for him,” she said, pausing often to compose herself while her daughters stood by her side for support. “The world is grieving, but for me it is the loss of a partner who walked beside me for a lifetime.”
The veteran actor-politician recalled how Dharmendra’s humility defined him even in the peak of superstardom. She remembered how he treated everyone co-stars, fans, technicians and strangers with the same warmth and dignity.
Hema Malini revisited the memories of their cinematic journey together 45 films as co-stars, more than 25 of which became box office favourites. She also revealed a tender, lesser-known part of Dharmendra’s personality: his love for writing Urdu poetry. He had been gathering his verses for a book, she said, but the dream remained unrealised. The ceremony included devotional songs, soulful bhajans and moments of silence. Many visitors recalled their personal encounters with Dharmendra — stories marked by admiration for his charm, kindness and generosity. Even after his passing, his birthday on December 8 brought people across the country together in remembrance.
Later in the evening, Esha Deol posted a moving video montage online, featuring classic moments from Dharmendra’s career, snippets of speeches by admirers like Dilip Kumar, and glimpses of the enduring bond between father and daughter.
Dharmendra’s cinematic journey from Sholay and Chupke Chupke to Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke remains etched in India’s cultural memory. His posthumous appearance in Sriram Raghavan’s upcoming film Ikkis, set to release later this month, will mark his final bow on screen.