Dharmendra Prayer Meet: Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtani, Exes, Attend Hema Malini’s Tribute to the Film Legend
New Delhi:
Veteran actor and BJP MP Hema Malini, Dharmendra’s wife, hosted a solemn prayer gathering today at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in Janpath, New Delhi, honoring the late film icon who passed away on November 24 at the age of 89 following a brief illness.
Esha Deol and her former husband, Bharat Takhtani, were among those who joined the prayer session in Delhi. Ahana Deol’s husband, Vaibhav Vohra, was also present to stand with the family.
Overview of the Event
The prayer meeting, reported to have taken place after Dharmendra’s would-be 90th birthday on December 8, marks the second such tribute to the actor. The event drew participation from a notable cross-section of political leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Railways and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State Jitendra Singh, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prahlad Joshi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and BJP MPs Kangana Ranaut, Harsh Malhotra, and Bansuri Swaraj.
In a moment of collective respect, attendees observed a two-minute silence in memory of Dharmendra. Hema Malini and her daughters were seen paying their respects with folded hands.
During the proceedings, Hema Malini spoke warmly of Dharmendra, delivering a heartfelt tribute to her late husband.
Dharmendra’s Prayer Meet: The Deol Family’s Tribute
The inaugural prayer gathering was held on November 27 at Taj Lands End in Mumbai and was organized by the Deol family. The event saw an outpouring of gratitude from the film community. At the entrance, Dharmendra’s sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, along with other relatives, stood with folded hands to greet friends and colleagues who arrived to pay homage.
The tribute featured a musical interlude by Sonu Nigam, who rendered several of Dharmendra’s beloved songs, including Aa Ja Jaane Wale, Rahe Na Rahe Hum, Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan Hai, and Apne Toh Apne Hote Hain.
Among those who attended were Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Tiger Shroff, Vidya Balan, Aryan Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Suresh Oberoi, and a host of other industry figures.
While many guests made their way to Taj Lands End for the Mumbai event, several others visited Hema Malini at her residence to offer private condolences. Notable attendees included Mahima Chaudhry, Fardeen Khan, and Sunita Ahuja with her son Yashvardhan.
Ahead of the Delhi gathering, Hema Malini had also observed a Gita Paath at her home in Dharmendra’s memory.
Would you agree that this moment of tribute underscored the enduring impact of Dharmendra’s legacy on Indian cinema, or do you feel the attention around celebrity funerals often shifts focus from the individuals who truly influenced the industry? Share your thoughts in the comments.
