‘Deol family is broken after their loss’: Anil Sharma says Dharmendra’s prayer meet ‘a celebration of his life, bigger than any state honour’
During an interview with SCREEN, director Anil Sharma opened up about late superstar Dharmendra and how Deol family is holding up during the difficult time.
Legendary superstar Dharmendra’s demise has affected the film fraternity and his fans deeply. Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who shares a long-standing relationship with the Deol family opened up about the late actor, in an interview with SCREEN. He clarified that the prayer meet for Dharmendra, being held in Mumbai on Thursday, should be called a ‘celebration’ instead. The Gadar director also reflected on the fan’s disappointment on not getting a chance to say goodbye to their beloved icon as the family chose to have a private funeral with only close friends present.
During the candid chat, he confirmed that he will be attending the celebration of Dharmendra’s life, hosted by the Deols, in Mumbai today. “I will attend for sure. But, it’s not a prayer meet, we are celebrating Dharam ji. The entire world is celebrating him. What Dharam ji has earned, he deserves a celebration. It is bigger than any state honour,” he said.
The filmmaker further added about a private funeral, “Poora bhaarat unko honour deraaha hai, state ki kya zaroorat hai? (the whole world is honouring him, state honour isn’t needed). Not just the country, the entire world, they are getting calls from Australia, Japan, Canada, everywhere. People are celebrating him everywhere. State honour is a small thing for him, he is getting world honour. Unko koi tamasha karne ki zarurat nahi thi, kya tamasha? (There was no need to create a fuss). I understand that fans are in pain right now, but they can celebrate him in their own way.”
Talking about the tough period the Deol family is going through, he expressed, “There’s nothing to say in this, it’s understood. The entire world has tears in their eyes, and so does me and the Deol family. They are also very broken.”
When asked about his best memories with Dharmendra, Anil Sharma shared, “His smiling face, love, eyes, and patting on the head lovingly, I remember all this. I touched his feet when we met for the first time on the set of The Burning Train, I was a kid. He always used to say, ‘Mehnat karo, jeete raho (work hard, live long)’. I can never forget those moments. He was a gold human.”
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“Dharam ji was so sensible that when I narrated the story of Hukumat to him, he said yes within 5 minutes. Now, actors aren’t even able to decide after 2-3 narrations which took hours. He never listened to an idea more than five minutes, gave a yes or no within that time, he knew it had impact or not. Today’s stars should learn that sensibility from him. He always used to count himself as an audience, and didn’t see himself as an actor. He was still that gentle and down to earth, as if he just came from Ludhiana’s town Sahnewal. He still had that poor man in him. He didn’t even know or realise how big he was,” he revealed.
The director was also asked about the reports of Apne 2 being shelved after Dharmendra’s demise. He replied, “All these stories are going on, I don’t know where it came from. I haven’t given any such statement. We aren’t even having any discussions over it, our minds are not even focused on this. We will see what happens in the future with time. But yes, Dharam ji ke lie Apne 2 ki shradhanjali banti hi hai.” The first instalment Apne (2007) featured the late icon and his two sons – Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol.
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
