Fond tributes to the legendary Dharmendra continue to pour in following his passing on November 24. At the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), actor-producer Aamir Khan offered one of the most personal remembrances yet, opening up about his bond with the veteran star and the special moments they shared in the last year of his life.
Speaking during a session at the festival, Aamir revealed that he had grown especially close to Dharmendra over the past twelve months. He visited the late actor frequently, not for work-related discussions, but simply because he cherished the warmth and companionship that Dharmendra always offered.
One of the most touching memories Aamir shared was that Dharmendra had watched Lahore 1947—Aamir’s upcoming production starring Sunny Deol—long before the film’s release. In fact, he was the very first person to see it.
“In the film Lahore 1947, which we’ve made with Sunny, I was fortunate enough to show it to him,” Aamir said, recalling the moment tenderly. “He saw the film before anyone else. I’m so glad he got to watch it, because it was one of his favourite scripts.”
Aamir admitted that he deeply regretted missing Dharmendra’s prayer meeting held on November 27, as he was away from Mumbai at the time. He shared that over the last year, he had visited Dharmendra 7–8 times—simply because he enjoyed sitting with him and listening to his stories.
He recounted one particularly special day when he took his son Azad along for a visit. “Azad came with me, and we spent a couple of hours with Dharamji. It was beautiful,” Aamir said, smiling as he remembered the veteran actor’s kindness. “He wasn’t just a brilliant actor—he was an extraordinary human being.”
Lahore 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and adapted from Asghar Wajahat’s acclaimed play, follows a Muslim family’s emotional journey as they migrate to Lahore during Partition, only to discover that the Hindu family expected to vacate their new home has not yet left.
With a powerful cast featuring Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal and Karan Deol, the film was already generating strong anticipation. Aamir’s revelation that Dharmendra saw and loved the film adds an emotional layer to its release.