Late veteran actor Dharmendra, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 89, is remembered not only for his iconic on-screen presence but also for his extraordinary generosity behind the scenes. Director Anil Sharma, a longtime friend of the Deol family, recently shared touching anecdotes that highlight Dharmendra’s kindness, humility, and unwavering support for struggling filmmakers.
Worked on Punjabi Films After Hours, Without Taking Any Fee
During a conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Anil Sharma revealed that Dharmendra often helped Punjabi filmmakers who approached him for small scenes.
According to Sharma, Dharmendra would finish his regular shooting schedule and then stay back after 9 pm to film for Punjabi movies.
“Dharam ji has worked with almost everyone and done every kind of film. He helped countless people. Many would request him to shoot a scene late at night, and he always agreed,” Sharma said.
Sharma added that these filmmakers would often tell Dharmendra that even a short appearance by him would help their movie sell and secure their livelihood. Moved by their struggles, Dharmendra never charged a single rupee and encouraged them to come to whichever location he was shooting at.
Memories From Dharmendra’s Final Days
Anil Sharma also recalled visiting Dharmendra during his last days. He remembered the actor slowly recovering and responding by opening his eyes and moving his hands. Doctors, too, were optimistic, calling Dharmendra a “very strong man.”
Sharma shared that everyone hoped he would recover in time to celebrate his birthday on December 8. However, age ultimately took its toll, and the actor passed away despite the hopeful signs of improvement.
Prayer Meet Held as a ‘Celebration of Life’
Dharmendra’s prayer meet took place on November 27 and was described as a ‘Celebration of Life.’ A poster released by the Deol family featured a nostalgic image of the actor from his younger days.
The event saw an overwhelming turnout of celebrities from across generations, who gathered to honour the legendary star and support the Deol family.
Attendees included Rekha, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Shabana Azmi, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth Malhotra, Suniel Shetty, Ameesha Patel, Fardeen Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Sonu Sood, Anu Malik, Subhash Ghai, Abbas-Mastan, and Anil Sharma.