Dangon Village Mourns Its Beloved 'Apna Dharam'
The news of Bollywood legend Dharmendra's critical illness sent waves of sorrow through Dangon village, the actor's ancestral home located approximately an hour's drive from Ludhiana. For the residents of this Punjab village, Dharmendra wasn't just a film star - he was their own 'apna Dharam', with every household having its personal connection to the beloved actor.
As prayers filled the air for his recovery, the village struggled to come to terms with the deteriorating health of their most famous son. Dharmendra's nephew, Buta Singh, 35, expressed the collective anguish: "Nothing prepares you to take such news. My grandmother was already tense after his condition deteriorated earlier this month and now she is in deep shock. All of us are anguished, but we are proud he made our little village and Punjab proud."
Family Memories and Emotional Connections
The pain runs particularly deep for Dharmendra's 90-year-old aunt, Preetam Kaur, who had already suffered the loss of her son Shingara Singh during Covid in 2021. "I was already in so much pain after my son died. Now Dharam is gone too," she shared emotionally. She fondly remembered visiting Mumbai where Dharmendra "treated her like royalty" and generously provided everything needed for her son Manjit's marriage.
Preetam Kaur revealed that Dharmendra was particularly fond of Shingara, and the two maintained their bond through regular video calls. The family connections run even deeper - Manjit disclosed that his brother Gurjit lived with Dharmendra's family in Mumbai for two years, showcasing the actor's commitment to keeping family ties strong despite his stardom.
Preserving the Legacy in Sahnewal
In Sahnewal, another significant location in Dharmendra's life story, the house where he once lived on rent has become a local landmark. Though the property has changed ownership, the current residents have preserved its historical significance. Manjeet Kaur, who bought the house around three years ago, shared: "It was in poor condition when we purchased it, but we feel proud living in the same building that was once Dharmendra ji's."
She revealed an even more significant detail: Sunny Deol was born in this very house. The family has preserved pictures of the old house and Sunny's room, framing them as precious memorabilia. "We always wished he would come to the house and meet us. Unfortunately that never was to be," Manjeet added with regret.
The emotional connections extend beyond family to former neighbors like 86-year-old Girdhari Lal, who shared that Dharmendra's younger brother Ajit Singh Deol was his school classmate. "Dharmendra's father Kewal Krishan ji was my teacher as he taught both in government primary and high school in Sahnewal," Lal recalled.
He painted a picture of the young Dharmendra before stardom: "Before becoming a star, he would go to a salon in Chaura Bazar in Ludhiana and spend hours there as he was quite fashion savvy." But more than his style, Lal remembered the actor's character: "He was always very friendly. A man with a big heart. Even after he made it big in Bollywood, he hosted me whenever I went to Mumbai for training."
The depth of Dharmendra's connection to his roots was evident during his last visit to the village in 2014, when he took the village soil and touched it to his forehead - a gesture that spoke volumes about his attachment to his homeland.
Instead of the birthday celebration planned for December 8, the village is now preparing for a remembrance meeting, as confirmed by Amritpal Singh, former sarpanch of Dangon. The sentiment throughout the region was perfectly captured by an anonymous admirer who approached during the reporting: "You want to know about Dharmendra? Take it from me, he was a giant among men." When asked for his name, he simply replied: "I don't matter. We are Dharmendra's people."
