Amitabh Bachchan bids a heart-wrenching farewell to ‘Sholay’ co-star and close confidant Dharmendra

The legendary star of Sholay had been battling health issues and was recently discharged from Breach Candy Hospital on November 12 after being treated for breathlessness.

As news of his death spread, tributes poured in, and the film industry gathered to bid him a final goodbye.

Amitabh Bachchan, his longtime friend and co-star, arrived at the crematorium with son Abhishek and grandson Agastya.

Amitabh and Dharmendra had a kind of effortless, lived-in chemistry in Sholay that made Jai and Veeru feel less like characters and more like two guys you genuinely believed had grown up together. Their banter had this easy rhythm—Dharmendra’s playful charm bouncing perfectly off Amitabh’s quieter, brooding intensity. It’s such a cool contrast: one sunny, one shadowy, yet completely in sync.

What made their pairing iconic is how natural they were in the smallest moments. The way Veeru teases Jai, the way Jai gives that tiny half-smile, or the way they move as a team in the action sequences—none of it felt performed. It felt like two friends who understood each other without needing to say a lot.

Besides Big B, Aamir Khan, filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, Sanjay Dutt, Salim Khan, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, and Saira Banu were among the many who came to pay their last respects.

Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who had both recently visited the ailing actor in the hospital, also attended the cremation.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh joined the stream of mourners offering their final prayers.

Outside Dharmendra’s residence, security was tightened as family members and close friends arrived, including his daughter Esha Deol. An official statement from the Deol family is expected soon.

The film world is mourning the loss of the man fondly remembered as Bollywood’s original “He-Man,” whose warmth, charm, and versatility shaped generations of cinema lovers.

From his first stride across the screen in humble rural attire to the rugged swagger that made him Bollywood’s original action icon, Dharmendra embodied a rare mix of raw charisma and unshakable professionalism.

He was the kind of actor who once paused a fight scene under scorching lights to insist on perfection—not because he feared mistakes, but because he revered his craft.