In a quiet village near Mathura, life for one evening came to a standstill — not in mourning alone, but in a moving tribute to a cinematic legend.
In Selkhera village of the Baldev area, more than ten thousand people gathered not just as fans, but as family, to honour the memory of Dharmendra.
Villagers and visitors from nearby hamlets came together to perform a traditional havan and shantipath, followed by a communal feast — a heartfelt “brahmabhoj” — and a screening of his iconic film Sholay, as a collective farewell to the man who had touched their hearts through his roles on screen and his humanity off it.
Organisers like Gopal Singh Pehalwan and Lakhan Singh said the entire village felt they had lost a member of their own family when Dharmendra passed away.
“We were all deeply saddened by his death,” they said, “and we wanted to show our love and respect in our own way.
That’s why we came together to perform the terahvin in his name.” Invitations had been extended across a dozen surrounding villages, and the turnout far exceeded expectations — a testament to how deeply the actor’s memory lived on in small-town India.
Back in Mumbai and Delhi, Dharmendra’s immediate family and close fraternity in Bollywood responded with equal emotion.
His wife, Hema Malini, poured out her grief and love in an emotional tribute: she called him “everything” — loving husband, devoted father, friend, guide and poet.
She recalled how, despite his superstar status, his humility, warmth and universal appeal made him a beloved figure beyond cinema.
His elder sons — Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol — received heartfelt condolences from fans, and many gathered outside their Juhu home to pay their respects.
The family is planning a public prayer meet in Delhi on December 11, where friends, colleagues and admirers will come together to remember the legend.
For the people of Selkhera — and indeed many across India — that evening of hymns, prayers, a community meal, and a film screening was more than tribute.
It was a collective expression of gratitude and love.
Under the starlit village sky, strangers became family; mourners became companions; and for one night, beloved memories found a home.
Even as the nation grieves the loss of an unparalleled actor, that humble village’s tribute shows how deep his legacy runs — beyond silver screens and city lights, into the hearts of millions.
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