Indian cinema has lost one of its largest icons. Dharmendra, the legendary actor beloved as Bollywood’s original He-Man, has died, leaving the film industry and millions of fans around the world mourning. As news of his death spread, industry greats rushed to his home, and one of the first to be photographed mourning deeply was Amitabh Bachchan, a long-time co-star and friend.
A Friendship in Bollywood History
For millions of people, Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra will always conjure images of one film in particular, the timeless Sholay, which kept their iconic bond as Jai and Veeru forever fresh in our minds. Their chemistry, fraternity, and simple humour helped create one of the most indelible friendships captured on screen.
Even off the screen, there were decades of respect, admiration, and true human emotion between Dharmendra and Amitabh.
So when Amitabh was photographed entering the house of Dharmendra, mourning deeply and emotionally, it reminded all of us that Bollywood has not only lost an actor, but an era.
Amitabh Bachchan Arrives to Pay His Last Respects
eyewitnesses described Amitabh Bachchan walking in quietly, head hung low, eyes heavy from grief. The Bachchan family collectively entered the lobby, but Amitabh was the only one to walk out of the car and inside, a small but significant detail that showed the depth of his loss.
As someone who’s rarely publicly emotive, Amitabh’s sombre presence sent a wave of melancholia reaching all fans and film aficionados, and the media exploded with images and messages, referencing ‘Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge’ in countless ways.
Today, the dosti only ended because of the unthinkable, death.
Bollywood Mourns a Titan
Throughout the day, everyone from young actors to directors to musicians and writers spends time throughout the day paying tribute to Dharmendra for his contributions to film (an unmatched segment spanning romance, action, comedy and drama), He was a great man, demonstrated through charm and humility; he was that rare breed of superstar and gentleman.
His sons, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and actress Hema Malini, welcomed fans as they congregated outside the house to catch one last glimpse of the beloved star.
A Legend is Forever
Though Dharmendra is no longer alive, he is immortalised through the memories created through his iconic works, which, to us, represent the golden age of Bollywood: Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Seeta Aur Geeta, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, etc.
For Amitabh Bachchan, for his family, for his co-stars, and for the millions who grew up loving his films, Veeru may be gone, but the legend remains eternal.
