The Bigg Boss 19 grand finale, one of the most anticipated nights marked by high-voltage performances and finalist frenzy, suddenly slipped into silence and emotion when Salman Khan could no longer hold back his grief. Days after Dharmendra’s passing, the show dedicated a heartfelt tribute to India’s beloved He-Man, leaving both the audience and Salman deeply overwhelmed and wrapped up in nostalgia.
As Dharmendra’s evergreen moments played across the screen, Salman’s voice cracked. His eyes swelled, his words staggered, echoing a pain India collectively felt on November 24. “We lost our He-Man, our most amazing man, Dharmendra ji,” he said, fighting back tears. He remembered how the legend lived a king-sized life, loved with an open heart and entertained the nation for six decades. “My career graph has always followed Dharmendra ji. Woh charming aur innocent character leke aaye the He-Man ke body mein. We would miss him. Love you, Dharam Paaji.”
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The studio fell still, no cheers, no murmurs, just a shared grief. Nobody anticipated such an emotional outburst from Salman Khan. He went on to share why this loss struck him personally. “He passed away on 24th November, on my father’s birthday, and tomorrow is his birthday as well as my mum’s,” he said. “If I’m feeling like this, imagine what Sunny and his family must be going through.”
Salman also praised the dignified farewell the Deol family gave their patriarch, “There was a decorum, a celebration of life. Hats off to Bobby and Sunny.”
The icon: six decades of cinema and countless memories
Dharmendra, 89, passed away due to age-related complications surrounded by his family. A titan of Indian cinema, he leaves behind a filmography that shaped not only generations but also built up a community culture with films like Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Dharam Veer, Phool Aur Patthar, Seeta Aur Geeta and countless more. Even at nearly 90, his desire to face the camera never dimmed.
Heartbreak of a nation
Salman’s emotional tribute captured something deeper, the heartbreak of a nation that grew up loving its original He-Man.
