Hema Malini says she celebrated Dharmendra’s 90th birthday weeks after his death, gets emotional: ‘Humaara pyaar sacha tha’

Hema Malini with Ranjeet, Esha Deol, Amit Shah and J P Nadda. (Express Images: Anil Sharma)

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Shradhanjali bhajans were followed by a Hema recalling Dharmendra and his memories. The actor was emotional and teary eyed as she said, “I am feeling very emotional while welcoming you all at this prayer meet. I never thought that I will have to host a condolence meet, that too, for my Dharam ji. The whole world is mourning his passing away. But for me, it is an incomparable shock.”

Hema Malini after addressing the crowd at Dharmendra’s prayer meet. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)

Amit Shah, Bharat Takhtani, J P Nadda, and Kiren Rijiju at the prayer meet. (Express Photo: Anil Sharma)

As her daughters Ahana and Esha stood behind her for support, the veteran actor-politician added, “The companionship stood the test of time. My association with Dharam ji was for 57 years. When I entered the film industry, I got a chance to do most films with him only. We worked together in 45 films, and out of that, over 25 were superhits. We got a lot of love as a ‘hit pair’ from the industry and audience. Humaara pyaar sacha tha (our love was pure), I will have to learn to live without him.”

Hema Malini addressing the crowd at Dharmendra’s prayer meet. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta greets Hema Malini. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)

Recalling her fond memories with Dharmendra and expressing how he was as a ‘pure soul’, she shared, “He was a very cheerful and friendly person. Despite being such a famous personality, he never thought of himself as different from others, always stayed down to earth. He was a pure soul.”

Ravi Kishan taking Hema Malini’s blessings. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)

Hema said that the family celebrated Dharmendra’s 90th birthday on December 8, a few weeks after his passing. “We celebrated his birthday but along with us the entire country remembered him,” she said, adding how people from all walks of life come to her to reminiscence about Dharmendra.

Kangana Ranaut with Bharat Takhtani, Esha Deol, Hema Malini and Ahana Deol (Express Photo: Anil Sharma)

Hema also revealed that Dharmendra wanted to write a book, full of his Urdu poetry, but he unfortunately passed away before fulfilling his dream. “He did so many roles in different genres, but I know that he loved to do comedy. He was so fond of standing in front of the camera. Dharam ji had a special talent that not many people knew about – writing Urdu shayari. Whatever the situation was, he could recite a poem on that. I told him that he should write a book of his Urdu poetry, he even wanted to, it was planned, but that dream will now remain incomplete,” she concluded.