Veteran actress Saira Banu shared a long note on Instagram which read, "The demise of Dharam ji feels as though a chapter of our shared cinematic and personal history has gently closed its pages, leaving behind a warmth that is rare to find in today’s hurried times. For me, the loss is not merely of a colleague, but he was my dear Yousuf Sahib’s 'Dharam'. I often return to the story he narrated countless times, with the innocence and wonder of a man who never lost his humility. In 1952, a young boy from Ludhiana touched to the core by the film Shaheed set out for Bombay with only one dream: to meet the actor who had made an impact in his mind. His heart thumped with reverence as he made his way to Pali Hill in Bandra, for that was where Dilip Sahib lived. With the courage only youth can claim, he entered the home without anyone stopping him. And there he found Yousuf Sahib, fast asleep on the sofa, the afternoon sun falling softly across his face. Dharam stood frozen in awe until Yousuf Sahib stirred awake, and the poor boy, frightened by his own boldness, ran out of the house with the swiftness of a startled deer. It became one of his favourite memories to recount, always with a shy smile. Six years later, destiny brought them together again, this time through the Filmfare Talent Hunt. The meeting was arranged by Farida, Sahib’s younger sister, who worked with Femina, and it was here that young Dharmendra met the man he idolized, not as a distant star, but as an elder brother whose eyes held warmth, wisdom, and a rare gentleness. Yousuf Sahib spoke to him in that affectionate blend of English, Punjabi, and Urdu that only he could make sound like poetry. It was a chilly evening, and before parting, he took off his own sweater and draped it around the young aspirant’s shoulders. That simple gesture, rooted in pure affection, became the first thread of a lifelong bond."
The note further read, "From that day forward, Dharam was ghar ka aadmi. He could walk into our home at any hour midnight or dawn and he would always be received with love. There were times when superstardom weighed heavily upon him, when the glare of fame felt harsher than its glow. In those moments, it was to Yousuf Sahib that he would turn. And Yousuf Sahib would guide him, steady him, and remind him of the values that shaped him. I remember vividly the night he came past midnight carrying Sunny’s photographs from Betaab. He was anxious, like a young father seeking reassurance, and told us with great earnestness that the girl considered for the film was Amrita Singh. His voice carried both excitement and hesitation. Yousuf Sahib listened with that endearing attentiveness of his and spoke to him with such affection that Dharam left reassured, lighter, and smiling. It was in such moments that I saw how deeply he looked up to Yousuf Sahib not as an icon, but as a guardian of his spirit. Though fate allowed them to appear together in only one film Paari their real companionship was lived far away from lights, cameras, and screens. In Dharam’s home, among the precious photographs he kept of his parents and his sons, there stood one of Yousuf Sahib such was his love. He would often tease me, saying with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, 'Saira, main toh Yousuf Sahib ke pyaar mein aapka muqabla karta hoon!' And I would laugh, knowing that beneath the jest lay an affection so steadfast it could never be replicated. Today, as I bid farewell to this noble, gentle soul, I am reminded of the towering humility he carried within him, the loyalty he offered to those he loved, and the vastness of his heart so large that it embraced not just people, but life itself, with gratitude and grace. May the angels receive him with the warmth he so generously offered to others. May his onward journey be blessed, luminous, and wrapped in divine mercy. And may he rest in the eternal peace he so richly deserves."
