Actor Mukesh Khanna has spoken about his farewell visit with Dharmendra at the veteran star`s home after he was released from the hospital. Mukesh said that an ICU-like environment had been put up within the house for Dharmendra, with everyone hopeful he would recover and bounce back.
Mukesh recently posted a video on his YouTube channel in which he remembers the actor and recalls his last visit with him at his house shortly after being released from the hospital.
Mukesh Khanna shares details on Dharmendra
“I had gone to their home just five or six days ago, right after he was brought back from the hospital. They had set up an ICU-like arrangement inside the house itself. I knew I wouldn’t be able to meet him properly, but I still felt it was important to go,” Mukesh said.
The Shaktimaan actor further shared about meeting Sunny and Bobby Deol during this visit. “I told them, ‘He is very strong. He will come out of this… he will get through this problem.’ But in the end, whatever God wills is what happens. People were shocked because everyone believed he was strong enough to recover. His body gave up, but the soul moves on. And he had a beautiful soul.”
Mukesh also talked about his many memories with Dharmendra, particularly when they were working on Tahalka. He mentioned Dharmendra`s simplicity and humility as his strongest characteristics. Even in his latter months, when he wasn`t feeling well, Mukesh noticed that his face radiated enthusiasm.
About Dharmendra`s demise
Dharmendra died at the age of 89 on November 24, only days before his 90th birthday on December 8. The actor had been ailing for quite some time before being admitted to the hospital on November 10. Later, he was released from Mumbai`s Breach Candy Hospital and was recovering at home. He was cremated in Mumbai on November 25 in the presence of his family and film industry associates. Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Salim Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan were all seen at the crematorium paying their final respects.
A prayer meeting in memory of the late actor was organised in Mumbai on Thursday. The Deol family hosted the prayer meeting, known as Celebration of Life. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Rekha, and Aishwarya Rai were among those who attended the prayer meeting.