The death of veteran actor Dharmendra on Monday brought emotional tributes from across the Hindi film industry. Many actors and filmmakers shared heartfelt memories. On Monday night, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra’s longtime co-star and close friend from the 70s, also paid tribute with a touching note for his friend.
Amitabh worked with Dharmendra in Sholay as one of the best duos of Bollywood. He wrote on Facebook, “Another valiant Giant has left us, left the arena, leaving behind a silence with an unbearable sound.”
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Remembering Dharmendra’s impact, Amitabh added, “Dharam ji, the epitome of greatness, ever linked not only for his renowned physical presence, but for the largeness of his heart, and its most endearing simplicity. He brought with him the earthiness of the village in Punjab he came from, and remained true to its temperament, unsoiled throughout his glorious career, in a fraternity that witnessed changes every decade. The fraternity underwent changes, not him. His smile, his charm and his warmth, extending to all that came in his vicinity, a rarity in the profession.”
Ending his tribute, Amitabh wrote, “The air about us swings vacant, a vacuum that shall ever remain vacuus.”
Amitabh and Dharmendra first acted together in Dost (1974), followed by the hits Chupke Chupke and Sholay in 1975. They later worked together in films like Naseeb, Ram Balram and Hum Kaun Hain.
Netizens react
Many people shared memories of watching Amitabh and Dharmendra together on screen. One user wrote, "Amitabh ji, Who could known him better than you ! Each word explains how great human being was Aapka Dharam, other than being a legendary actor and versatile performer."
Another wrote, "The whole world loved your and Dharmendraji's pairing. Sole film was a historic film of this earth. Perhaps such a film cannot be made again in this lifetime. Dharmendraji has left not only you but the whole world, the world will remember him."
Another user shared, "Those of us born in 70s. There were two names - Dharmendra and Amitabh when we were just old enough to understand movies."
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Someone else wrote, "It's feel like someone close to our heart has left us physically forever but he will remains in our hearts in our memories forever."
Dharmendra died on Monday morning at the age of 89. He had been fighting for his life for weeks and was hospitalised earlier this month. Although there were earlier false reports about his death on November 10, his family denied them. He was later discharged and returned home, but passed away at his Juhu residence on 24 November. He was cremated the same day at the Pavan Hans Crematorium.
