Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, during the grand finale of the reality show Bigg Boss season 19, broke down in tears while discussing the late superstar Dharmendra.
With tears in his eyes, Salman struggled to speak about Dharmendra, his emotions overwhelming him. This was a rare moment of vulnerability for the actor on national television. While informing the contestants about the unfortunate news, he wept and stated, “Dharmendra passed away on the 24th of November, on my father Salim Khan’s 90th birthday.”
He described Dharmendra as “the He-Man of Bollywood,” noting his innocent face and impressive physique, attributing over 60 years of legacy to him. Salman’s emotions deepened when he recalled that Dharmendra’s birthday falls on December 8, coinciding with his mother’s special day. He also praised the dignity with which Dharmendra’s funeral was conducted. “I have seen two funerals being conducted with full dignity to date; one was of filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya’s mother, and the second was Dharamji’s. Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and the entire family of Dharmendra ji conducted the prayer meetings also with so much dignity, love, and grace. It was such a beautiful moment to see so many people celebrate his life with so much love.”
As Salman reminisced about Dharmendra, a video showcasing their moments on the Bigg Boss sets aired, making him visibly emotional. He recalled how Dharmendra was a consistent presence on set each season.
“But this time he won’t be there,” said Salman, breaking down further. “If it is so difficult for me, imagine how difficult it must be for Sunny, Bobby, and Esha—all of them have made Dharamji proud. Prakash aunty, Hema ji as well,” he added. He emphasized that there would never be another actor like Dharmendra, stating that only he deserved all the grace, respect, and love in Bollywood.
Earlier, while hosting Bigg Boss 19, Salman voiced his profound sadness over Dharmendra’s passing. He remarked that the previous week had been tough not just for the nation but especially for the Bollywood industry. Without directly naming Dharmendra, he mentioned that “this week the industry faced a huge loss,” adding, “I wish I was not hosting Bigg Boss this week, but in the end, life goes on.”
For those unfamiliar, Dharmendra passed away on November 24 at the age of 89. Salman Khan was among the first Bollywood celebrities to arrive at the crematorium on that date and later at the prayer meeting organized by the Deol family on November 27. He shared a close bond with Dharmendra, having starred together in the film Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, which also featured Kajol and Arbaaz Khan.
Dharmendra’s relationship with the Khan family spans over 50 years, dating back to when Salman’s father, Salim Khan, co-wrote the iconic classic Sholay with Javed Akhtar. Dharmendra played Veeru in Sholay, a character still regarded as one of the finest in Bollywood.
On November 25, a day after Dharmendra’s demise, many prominent figures from the film industry visited the Deol residence to offer their condolences. Dharmendra, who was 89 at the time of his passing, would have celebrated his 90th birthday on December 8 this year.