Hema Malini says she celebrated Dharmendra’s 90th birthday weeks after his death, gets emotional: ‘Humaara pyaar sacha tha’
Hema Malini and daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol hosted a prayer meeting for late superstar Dharmendra, in Delhi today. It was attended by Kangana Ranaut, REkha Gupta and Nirmala Sitharaman.
Veteran actor-BJP MP and Dharmendra’s second wife Hema Malini hosted a prayer meeting in Delhi for the late superstar. He passed away on November 24, at the age of 89. Besides the family members, the gathering had many high-profile personalities, including Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Actors Ranjeet, Kangana Ranaut, and Ravi Kishan were also in attendance. Everyone paid tribute to the icon at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi.
The prayer meet was also attended by Dharmendra’s daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol and Hema’s son-in-law Vaibhav Vohra. Esha’s ex-husband and businessman Bharat Takhtani was also part of the service. Before heading inside the main hall, everyone paid tributes to the ‘He-Man of Bollywood’ by placing flower petals in front of a framed photo of him. Both Hema and Esha were seen getting emotional while bowing down before the picture.
Hema Malini with Ranjeet, Esha Deol, Amit Shah and J P Nadda. (Express Images: Anil Sharma)
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.
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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.
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
Hema Malini with Ranjeet, Esha Deol, Amit Shah and J P Nadda. (Express Images: Anil Sharma)
Hema Malini after addressing the crowd at Dharmendra’s prayer meet. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)
Hema Malini addressing the crowd at Dharmendra’s prayer meet. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)
Ravi Kishan taking Hema Malini’s blessings. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)
Kangana Ranaut with Bharat Takhtani, Esha Deol, Hema Malini and Ahana Deol (Express Photo: Anil Sharma)
