The passing of veteran actor Dharmendra on November 24, 2025, left the film industry and fans across the country in mourning. As tributes poured in, his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol organised a prayer meet for their father. However, the absence of Hema Malini and her daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol at the gathering quickly sparked speculation online.
Now, the veteran actress has addressed the chatter and explained why the family chose to hold separate prayer meetings.
“This is a personal family matter”
Speaking to Bombay Times, Hema Malini made it clear that there was no discord behind the decision. According to her, the arrangements were made after mutual discussions within the family.
“This is a personal matter of our family. We spoke to each other,” she said. “I organised a prayer meet at my home because my circle of people is different. I also held one in Delhi because I am active in politics, and it was important to organise a prayer meeting there for friends from that field.”
She further explained that she also planned a prayer meet in Mathura, her parliamentary constituency, where Dharmendra enjoyed immense love and admiration. “The people there are mad about him,” she added, saying she felt content with how everything was handled.
Reacting to misinformation after Dharmendra’s death
During the same interaction, Hema Malini also spoke about misleading content circulating on social media after Dharmendra’s passing. She revealed that old or unrelated videos showing her crying were being shared, leading many to assume she was overwhelmed with grief.
“There are videos where my eyes look red and sore, and people believe those are recent,” she said, urging fans not to fall for misinformation. She added that she has received numerous messages asking her to stay strong after people saw those clips.
“Life teaches you strength”
Reflecting on personal loss, Hema Malini shared that she has learned to process grief privately. She recalled losing her mother two decades ago and how life taught her resilience over time.
“I am a very strong person. I keep my emotions to myself,” she said. “When my mother passed away 20 years ago, I wondered how I would live without her, but I did. That’s what life teaches you.”
Dharmendra’s final release
On the professional front, Dharmendra was last seen in Ikkis, which released in theatres recently, marking his final on-screen appearance and serving as a quiet farewell to a career that spanned decades.
Final words
Hema Malini’s clarification brings much-needed context to the speculation surrounding Dharmendra’s prayer meetings. Her words underline that grief is deeply personal — and that families often find their own ways to remember, honour, and say goodbye.
