The passing of legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra on November 24, 2025, sent waves of grief through the film industry and among his legion of fans. In the days that followed, the decision by his family to hold a quiet, private funeral instead of a large public event became a topic of discussion. Now, in an emotional revelation, his wife, actress and politician Hema Malini, has explained the poignant reasons behind that choice, describing the actor's final days as "cruel."
A Family's Painful Decision
Filmmaker Hamad Al Reyami recently shared intimate details from his conversations with the grieving family at the separate prayer meetings held by Hema Malini and by Dharmendra's sons from his first marriage to Prakash Kaur, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. Speaking to Hamad, Hema Malini addressed the absence of a public farewell directly. She stated that the quiet and swift funeral was a decision that rested "in the hands of the family."
She expressed deep regret that the actor's fans could not see him one last time but emphasized a core aspect of Dharmendra's personality. "Dharmendra throughout his life never wanted to be seen weak or sick," Hema explained, according to Hamad's account shared on Instagram. "He was hiding his pain even from the closest people. After the person leaves, the decision remains in the hands of the family." This desire to protect his dignified image, even in death, guided their actions.
The Heartbreaking Reality of His Final Days
The conversation took a more somber turn as Hema Malini opened up about the actor's condition before his passing. She described his last days as profoundly difficult. "But what happened was mercy… Because Hamad you couldn’t bear to see him like that. His final days were cruel… Hurtful… And even we can barely bear to see it like that," she told the filmmaker. Her words, as noted by Hamad, were "like arrows… Hurtful and true."
In a bittersweet reflection, Hema also recalled encouraging Dharmendra to publish his poetry and writings, to which he would reply, "Not now… lemme finish some poems first." She lamented that time did not slow down for him and expressed bitterness that "strangers" would now write about his unpublished works.
Grief Unites the Family
Hamad Al Reyami's accounts also paint a vivid picture of the shared sorrow within the extended family. He met Dharmendra's daughter, Esha Deol, who told him, "You are lucky, Hamad… But I envy you because you were the last to meet my father in his last days, just two months before he died."
At the home of Sunny and Bobby Deol, the atmosphere was equally heavy with grief. Hamad recalled Bobby Deol consoling him as they both broke down in tears. When Hamad asked how the family was handling the pain, Bobby answered with "a silent hurt look, but it held a thousand words." Sunny Deol, embodying a stoic strength, sat Hamad down, offered him water, and spoke of his father as a "great man." Sunny acknowledged his father's fondness for Hamad, saying, "I knew how much he loved you." The visit also saw family friends like Chunky Panday, his wife Bhavana, and daughter Ananya Panday present, all in tears.
The collective narrative that emerges is one of a family united in profound loss, making difficult choices to honor the private nature of a beloved husband and father, even as the world mourns the passing of an iconic star. Their personal memories of his struggle make the private funeral not just a decision, but a final act of protection for the man they loved.
