Legendary actor Dharmendra passed away on November 24 at the age of 89. His demise is being mourned by his legion of fans across the country, along with his family members. Days after his passing, filmmaker Hamad Al Reyami shared a conversation he had with actress Hema Malini following the actor’s death. The filmmaker, who had known Dharmendra, met Hema face-to-face for the first time three days after the actor’s demise.
Filmmaker recalls conversation with Hema Malini after Dharmendra`s death
Hamad Al Reyami revealed he had met Dharmendra for the last time on September 30 at his Juhu residence. He took to his social media handle and shared the conversation he had with Hema Malini. Talking about the same in his Instagram post, Hamad shared, “On the third day of condolence, I visited legendary actress Hema Malini, wife of late Dharmendraa superstar. This was my first time meeting her face-to-face, although I`ve seen her from afar on many occasions before. But this time was different… A poignant, heavy on the heart, the kind that doesn`t get absorbed no matter how hard you try. I sat with her, and in her features I could see a broken inside that she`s trying so hard to hide.”
Hema Malini felt sorry for fans
He further wrote: “She said to me in a mocking voice: ‘I wish I was at the farm the same day I was with Dharmendra two months ago… Hope to have seen him there.’ And she told me how she always said to Dharmendra: ‘Why don’t you publish your beautiful poems and writings?’ And he was answering it: ‘Not now… lemme finish some poems first.’ But time did not slow him down, and flew away… And she said to me bitterly: ‘Now the strangers will come… They`ll write about it, they`ll write books… While his words he has not seen light.’ She then added with deep sadness that she was sorry his fans didn`t get a chance to see him one last time. And she said to me in a loving mother tone: ‘Dharmendra throughout his life never wanted to be seen weak or sick. He was hiding his pain even from the closest people. After the person leaves, the decision remains in the hands of the family.’”
“And then I paused for a while… I wiped her tears … and she said to me clearly: ‘But what happened was mercy… Because Hamad you couldn’t bear to see him like that. His final days were cruel… Hurtful… And even we can barely bear to see it like that.’ Her words were like arrows… Hurtful and true. I ended my conversation with her like: ‘No matter what happens… My love for him will never change… And his impact will never fade away.’ And when I thought about leaving, I asked her — very shyly — to take a picture with her, because I never had a picture that brings me together with Hema Malini. And her reaction was exactly in line with Dharmendra`s always… A smile, kindness and an honest welcome. My forever hero legendary Superstar DHARMENDRA. My hero for life my love legend and star Dharmendra,” Hamad concluded.
