Veteran actor Dharmendra, who died on November 24 at the age of 89, had made a clear decision about his ancestral property long before his passing. Despite speculation around his estate, multiple reports indicate that there is no dispute within the family. However, Dharmendra ensured that his ancestral land in Punjab would not go to any of his children. Instead, he left the agricultural property, worth several crores to his cousins and their sons.
Dharmendra left Punjab land to his cousins’ family
Dharmendra, born Dharam Singh Deol in Nasrali, Punjab, spent his early years in the nearby village of Dangon, where his family-owned agricultural land. After he moved to Mumbai in the 1950s to pursue an acting career, his cousins and their sons took over the farming and upkeep of the property.
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The land and the house on it are valued at around ₹5 crore. During a visit to the village in 2015, Dharmendra formally transferred the land to his nephews in recognition of their decades-long care.
His nephew Buta Singh Deol told The New Indian Express: “Dharmendra uncle was my father Manjit Singh’s cousin. The last time he came to the village was in 2019 when his son Sunny Deol fought the parliamentary elections from Gurdaspur. I also went to Gurdaspur to campaign for him. Before that, he came to the village in 2015-16 when he transferred 19 kanal and three marla land to my father Manjit Singh and my uncle Shingara Singh (now deceased).”
Buta Singh also explained the actor’s decision: “As he had left decades ago for Mumbai, our family has been taking care of his land, and we have been tilling it. He never forgot his roots and us.”
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Family and final days
Dharmendra had six children, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeeta, Ajeeta, Esha Deol, and Ahana Deol. He married Prakash Kaur in 1954, with whom he had four children, including Sunny and Bobby. In 1980, he married actor Hema Malini without divorcing his first wife; Esha and Ahana were born from this marriage.
He had been unwell for weeks before his death and was hospitalised in early November. After being discharged, he spent his last days at home in Mumbai’s Juhu, surrounded by family. His funeral and prayer meet saw the attendance of several Bollywood personalities.
