Emotions ran high at the prayer meet for Dharmendra, held on Thursday. Family members and notable colleagues, including Salman Khan, Rekha, and Aishwarya Rai, came together to honor the legendary actor. The evening was highlighted by a heartwarming musical tribute from Sonu Nigam, whose heartfelt performance resonated deeply with those in attendance.
The Deol family hosted the event, titled “Celebration of Life,” at the lawns of Taj Lands End in Bandra. Present were Dharmendra’s first wife, Prakash Kaur, their children — Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Ajeeta, and Vijeta — as well as his grandsons Karan and Rajveer, and actor Abhay Deol. While the gathering was kept private, snippets of the emotional ceremony found their way onto social media.
During the tribute, Sonu Nigam sang classic songs from Dharmendra’s films such as “Main Kahin Kavi Na Ban Jau” and “Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge.” Another touching moment came with live performances, including one by Prithvi Gandharv, who sang “Govind Bolo Hari Gopal Bolo.” A prominent portrait of Dharmendra adorned the stage, where singers performed, with a background screen displaying a heartfelt farewell message: “We’ll Miss You.”
The venue featured elegant white floral arrangements accompanied by nostalgic photographs of Dharmendra. Throughout the prayer meet, the Deol family, particularly Sunny and Bobby, appeared visibly affected as the ceremony unfolded from 5:30 pm to around 8 pm.
The event was not just a family affair; it drew notable attendees such as Shah Rukh Khan’s family, Aishwarya Rai, and other celebrities, including Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, and Jackie Shroff, all coming together to pay their respects to the late actor.
Dharmendra, who passed away at the age of 89 on November 24, was just weeks shy of his 90th birthday on December 8. Following a recent discharge from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, he had been recuperating at home prior to his death. He was cremated the day after his passing in Mumbai, marking the end of an era for one of India’s beloved film icons.