December 8th marked the birth anniversary of Bollywood’s legendary ‘He-Man’, Dharmendra. The veteran actor, who passed away on November 24, was being lovingly remembered by many on what would have been his 90th birthday. His daughter Esha Deol and elder son Sunny Deol shared heartfelt tributes, honoring their father with cherished memories and emotional reflections just weeks after his passing.
Esha Deol shared a few pictures with the Sholay actor and wrote, "To my darling Papa. Our pact, the strongest bond. 'Us' through all our lifetimes, all the realms and beyond….. We are always together papa. Be it heaven or earth. We are one. For now I have very tenderly, carefully & preciously tucked you in my heart… deep deep inside to carry on with me for the rest of this lifetime. The magical precious memories….. life lessons, the teachings, the guidance, the warmth, the unconditional love, the dignity and the strength you have given me as your daughter cannot be replaced or matched by any other (sic)."
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Dharmendra with daughter Esha Deol. (Instagram@iameshadeol)
Sunny Deol marked the day by posting a video on his official Instagram with the caption, "Today is my father’s birthday. Papa is always with me, inside me. Love you papa. Miss you.” Younger son, Bobby Deol, penned a heartfelt poem in Hindi as he remembered his father.
Wife Hema Malini marked the day with an emotional tribute on Instagram, sharing cherished photos and a heartfelt note dedicated to her late husband. "Dharam ji. Happy birthday my dear heart. More than two weeks have passed since you left me heartbroken, slowly gathering up the pieces and trying to reconstruct my life, knowing that you will always be with me in spirit."
On his uncle’s birth anniversary, Abhay Deol shared a childhood memory, posting a throwback picture with Dharmendra and recalling how the veteran actor lovingly posed for a photo with him.
Co-actor Saira Banu shared her thoughts about his enduring legacy in Indian cinema and the lasting impression he left on those who knew him personally.
Dharmendra was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital last month and was reportedly placed on a ventilator. He was discharged a few days later and returned home. He took his last breath on November 24, 2025, and his funeral was held at Pavan Hans in Mumbai. The Deol family later organized a prayer meet for him, which many Bollywood celebrities attended.
