Dharmendra News Highlights: Sunny Deol's son collects grandfather's ashes; Ranbir-Alia visit family

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Filmmaker Subhash Ghai shared a hand-print of Dharmendra and penned an emotional note. It read: "Dharam paaji. Your hand print at our fame wall of whistlingwoods international will always remind us about your super body work n loving nature n your blessings to us n students current n next generation of artiste n technicians in cinema. Whistlingwoods pays its hearty tribute to u always."

Hrithik Roshan joined the list of celebs who visited Dharmendra's family at his Juhu bungalow today.

Saira Banu shared beautiful throwback stories of Dharmendra, also featuring her late husband, Dilip Kumar. An excerpt from her note, which is continued in the comment box, reads, "He would often tease me, saying with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, 'Saira, main toh Yousuf Sahib ke pyaar mein aapka muqabla karta hoon!” And I would laugh, knowing that beneath the jest lay an affection so steadfast it could never be replicated."

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt arrived to meet the Deol family after Dharmendra's demise on Tuesday evening.

Ajay Devgn was clicked entering Dharmendra's Juhu bungalow for the prayer meet. 

Saif Ali Khan and Karisma Kapoor were clicking arriving at Dharmendra's Juhu house a day after his death to meet the Deol family. 

Alia Bhatt dropped a throwback photo with Dharmendra from the sets of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. 

Alia Bhatt

Dharmendra started his political career in Bikaner, Rajasthan. He served as a Bharatiya Janata Party MP from the Bikaner constituency. Soon after, the late actor distanced himself from politics and never contested elections again. Read on to know the full story.

Celina Jaitly's birthday coincided with the day of Dharmendra's demise. Taking to Instagram, she wrote that not all birthdays are meant for celebration. "I am immensely saddened to hear of the passing of Dharamji,
this year my birthday does not feel right at all. Dharamji was not just a legendary actor, he was one of the integral pillars of the most glorious years of Indian cinema, a man whose grace, charm, strength & humility shaped an entire era. My heart is breaking for my dear friend @imeshadeol , for Ahana, for Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeeta, Ajeeta, for Prakash Kaur ji, for Hema ji, for all grandchildren the entire Deol family, my deepest condolences. With the passing of Dharamji, with the suffering of my own brother, with so many personal storms this year, my birthday today is not a happy one. Some birthdays are not meant for celebration, they are meant for reflection, prayers & silence. May God give the Deol family strength, may Dharamji’s soul rest in eternal peace."

Earlier this year, Dharmendra underwent an eye graft surgery. When paps noticed him with a bandaged eye, they had asked him about his health. The veteran actor had replied, "I am strong. Abhi bhi Dharmendra mein bahut dum hai. Abhi bhi jaan rakhta hoon. Meri aankh, eye graft (corneal transplantation) ho gayi hai. I am strong. (Dharmendra still has a lot of strength. I still have the spirit. My eye has undergone an eye graft, I am strong.)" He even added, "Love you, my audience and my fans".

Preity Zinta, who started her acting career with Bobby Deol in Soldier, is extremely close to the family. She was clicked arriving at Dharmendra's Juhu bungalow last night.

Jaideep Ahlawat posted multiple photos with Dharmendra, seemingly from a shoot, and wrote, "Kuch nahi hai aisa jo keh paaunga. Bas Itna ki Aapne jo pyar diya Mujhe unn thode se dino main. Main vo Umar Bhar yaad rakhunga Sir. Aap bahut yaad aayenge. This World will Miss the one and only Jatt Yamla Pagla Deewana. RIP Dharam ji @aapkadharam."

Amitabh Bachchan, who was a close friend of Dharmendra, penned a heartbreaking note after attending his funeral on November 24. "Another valiant Giant has left us ..  left the arena .. leaving behind a silence with an unbearable sound Dharam ji. The epitome of  greatness,  ever linked not only for his renowned physical presence, but for the largeness of his heart , and its most endearing simplicity. He brought with him the earthiness of the village in Punjab he came from , and remained true to its temperament, un soiled throughout his glorious career , in a fraternity that witnessed changes every decade. The fraternity underwent changes, not him, his smile, his charm and his warmth, extending to all that came in his vicinity, a rarity in the profession. The air about us swings vacant, a vacuum that shall ever remain vacuus. Prayers (sic)," read Big B's X post.

Sunny Deol's elder son, Karan Deol, arrived at the crematorium around 8:30 am on November 25 to collect Dharmendra's ashes. He was accompanied by a priest. After completing all the rituals, Karan Deol left for home in Juhu with the ashes in an urn.

Dharmendra passed away due to age-related ailments. The veteran actor was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital earlier this month. After remaining in the hospital for about 10 days, he was brought back home for treatment. However, he breathed his last on Monday.