Ludhiana in Mourning as Bollywood Legend Dharmendra Passes Away
The residents of Sahnewal near Ludhiana are experiencing profound grief following the death of Bollywood icon Dharmendra, who spent his formative years in this Punjab town. The area where his family once lived has been plunged into sadness as news of the actor's demise at age 89 spread through the community.
Personal Memories from Sahnewal Residents
Girdhari Lal, an 86-year-old retired LIC manager who lives just yards away from the house where Dharmendra's family resided on rent, expressed his overwhelming shock. "I was shocked beyond words and unable to express my pain," Lal told TOI, revealing that he had been tense for many days after learning about the actor's ill health.
The connection between Lal and the Deol family runs deep. Dharmendra's younger brother Ajit Singh Deol (Jeet) was his class fellow, and they studied together until high school. Adding to this connection, Dharmendra's father, Kewal Krishan Deol, served as Lal's teacher in both government primary and high schools in Sahnewal.
Lal shared nostalgic memories of the actor before his rise to stardom. "Before becoming a star, Dharmendra would frequent a saloon in Chaura Bazar in Ludhiana and sit there for hours as he was quite fashion-savvy," he recalled. Their bond continued even after Dharmendra achieved fame, with Lal visiting Mumbai twice for training where the Bollywood star hosted him warmly.
Family Connections and Local Heritage
Manju Sharma, wife of Girdhari Lal, remembered Dharmendra's mother Satwant Kaur as "a great lady" from a "nice family." She revealed that they had prayed for his recovery, but unfortunately, their prayers went unanswered.
The family's educational background extended beyond Sahnewal. Master Kewal Krishan worked as a teacher in Lalton before moving to Phagwara, where the family lived for approximately ten years. The acting talent seemed to run in the family, as Master Kewal Krishan's brother-in-law's son Varinder also became a movie star, while Dharmendra's brother Ajit appeared in "Khote Sikke" before joining the railways when his film career didn't take off.
The Historic House in Sahnewal
The actual house where the Deol family lived in Sahnewal has undergone renovations but remains a point of local pride. Manjeet Kaur, who currently owns the house with her son and his family, explained that they had to renovate the damaged structure after purchasing it about three years ago.
She shared significant family history connected to the property. "Sunny Deol was born in one of the rooms of this house," she revealed, adding that they feel proud that Dharmendra once lived there. The family has preserved a picture of the damaged house and the room where Bobby Deol was born, keeping the memory alive in a framed photograph.
Manjeet Kaur expressed regret that Dharmendra hadn't visited more recently. "He did come here once around 10-12 years ago. He should have lived long, and we wished he should have come here and met us," she said emotionally.
Community Impact and Wider Mourning
Sandeep Kumar, another area resident, recalled Dharmendra's last visit to Sahnewal, during which the actor toured many parts of the area. "People in Sahnewal loved him a lot and were shocked by his demise," Kumar stated, reflecting the community's deep affection for the star.
The sorrow extends beyond Sahnewal to Nasrali village near Khanna, where Dharmendra was born. Master Jaswant Singh, a village resident, shared that Dharmendra's father taught in the village for two years. The community conducted an 'Ardas' for the actor's well-being at a local religious place when he became ill, making his passing particularly painful for the villagers.
Unfortunately, the house where the family lived in Nasrali village is now in poor condition. The villagers expressed their prayers for peace to the departed soul and strength for his family and countless fans to bear this irreparable loss.
The passing of Dharmendra has not only left a void in Indian cinema but has deeply affected the communities in Punjab that remember him as both a local boy and a national icon.
