‘Dharmendra Sir Was Critical, We Hugged Sunny Deol’: Ameesha Patel Recalls Hospital Visit | Exclusive

Dharmendra has passed away days before his 90th birthday. He’s survived by wives Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini, sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol and daughters Vijeta Deol, Ajeita Deol, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. His last rites took place in Pawan Hans cremation ground and was attended by his family along with Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Salim Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, among others.

But Ameesha, who shares a rather deep ‘friendship’ with the Deols, couldn’t make it to his last rites. Speaking exclusively to News18 from New York City, she tells us, “I haven’t reached out to the family yet. They’re under immense emotional pressure. I don’t want to trouble them because they’ve enough visitors

and callers and it wouldn’t be fair. At this point, they don’t need to be giving condolences to others. They need their privacy to be able to grapple with the situation.”

“It’s not an easy situation for them. They need the time to grief and we need to give them that. But once I reach Mumbai, the first thing I’m going to do is go and see them,” she adds. Earlier this month, Shah Rukh, Salman, Govinda and Ameesha Patel visited Dharmendra when he was admitted in Breach Candy Hospital following complaints about breathlessness.

Recalling her visit, the Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai and Humraaz actor shares, “It was a very tense situation and they needed to be left alone even at that time. He was in a very critical situation. Whether it was Shah Rukh, Salman or me, we were there briefly for ten minutes just to hug Sunny. It was a moment he couldn’t wrap his head around since it was about a person he loves the most.”

For the unversed, her association with the Deols dates back to before Gadar: Ek Prem Katha happened. “I was supposed to make my debut with Vijeta Films with a film called Samah with Jackie Shroff playing my father and a new boy. I was supposed to play the title role. I interacted a lot with Dharam ji then. I used to be in and out of Sunny Super Sound. I would’ve lunches with him. He always thought of me as part of his family. He always used to say, ‘Ameesha mere ghar ki beti hai,’” she tells us.

Talking about one of her last interactions with Dharmendra, she states, “Last year when I met him at Aamir’s daughter’s reception, he reminded me of a film we were supposed to do together where he was to play my father. He had such a sharp memory. Every time he would meet me, he would hug me and say, ‘Arrey meri Sakina!’ He always made me feel as if I was part of the Deols.”

“They’re few of the finest and most amazing people in the film industry and that’s because of the values Dharam ji brought them up with. He had the cutest smile. He would give me the sweetest words of encouragement. I would light up seeing him,” Ameesha continues. So, naturally, Dharmendra’s loss feels rather personal to her.

“The Indian film industry has not just lost an iconic actor and the most handsome man probably on this planet but also a legendary human being. Many people get name, fame, stardom and worldwide recognition but when you pass away to leave a legacy where people miss the human being that you were, that’s a bigger achievement. That’s why he has left behind a void in everyone’s heart,” remarks Ameesha.