An Emotional Farewell to a Cinematic Giant
Veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy delivered a deeply moving tribute to the late legendary actor Dharmendra during a special session at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Thursday. The session, titled '50 Years of Sholay: Why Sholay Still Resonates', became an impromptu memorial for the beloved star who passed away earlier this week at the age of 89.
A Bond That Transcended Cinema
When an audience member asked Sippy about the actor, the acclaimed director paused emotionally before gathering his thoughts. "It's been difficult talking about him. It just happened," Sippy reflected, referring to Dharmendra's recent passing. "I think he was the most wonderful man, one of the finest ever. That place will never be filled by anybody else. I am sure we will have other actors who are good, but there will be no Dharmendra again. He was absolutely magnificent, both as a human being and as an actor."
The friendship between Sippy and Dharmendra spanned five decades, beginning long before their collaboration on the iconic 1975 blockbuster Sholay, where Dharmendra's portrayal of Veeru became one of Indian cinema's most memorable performances.
Legacy and Renewed Celebration
In a fitting tribute to Dharmendra's enduring legacy, a newly restored 4K version of Sholay is scheduled to hit cinemas nationwide on December 12, reigniting nostalgia for one of India's most influential films and introducing it to new generations.
Sippy shared his personal grief, revealing "I will miss him a lot. I recently messaged and met Sunny and Bobby. I just don't know what to say except that all of us here will join in wishing him the very best in his new home, wherever he is."
Meanwhile, Dharmendra's family organized a public prayer meet titled 'Celebration of Life' on Thursday at Taj Lands End in Bandra. The gathering, held on the lawns from 5 pm to 7:30 pm, provided fans and film industry members an opportunity to pay their final respects to the actor whose six-decade career earned him the title "He-Man of Bollywood."
Dharmendra's final journey on November 25 saw attendance from family members and numerous Bollywood luminaries including Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Shabana Azmi, Sanjay Dutt, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone, among others, testament to his profound impact on Indian cinema.
