As the film industry continues to mourn Dharmendra’s passing, actor Mukesh Khanna has opened up about his final meeting with the legendary star — a visit that left him both hopeful and heartbroken. Mukesh revealed that the veteran actor’s Mumbai home had been turned into a near-ICU setup shortly after he was brought back from the hospital, with his family doing everything possible to keep him comfortable.
Mukesh Khanna Recalls a Quiet, Emotional Visit
Speaking through a video on his YouTube channel, Mukesh Khanna shared that he had gone to meet Dharmendra just a few days before the actor’s death. He remembered walking into a room filled with medical equipment — a sign of how fragile Dharmendra’s condition had become.
“I knew I wouldn’t be able to meet him properly, but I still felt it was important to go,” Mukesh said, recalling how the family had created an ICU-like setup inside the house.
During the visit, he met Sunny and Bobby Deol and tried to reassure them that their father’s strength would help him recover. “He is very strong… he will come out of this,” he told them. But despite the family’s hopes, destiny had other plans.
Mukesh added softly, “His body gave up, but the soul moves on. And he had a beautiful soul.”
A Bond Built Over Years
Mukesh also remembered the time they spent together while working on Tahalka, one of the action films that brought them closer. He described Dharmendra as someone who carried extraordinary simplicity and humility, two qualities that remained unchanged even in his final months. “His face still shone with positivity,” Mukesh said, noting that the actor’s charm and warmth never faded.
Industry Pays Tribute to a Legend
Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema’s most beloved stars, passed away on November 24 at the age of 89, just days before his 90th birthday. He had been unwell for some time and was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on November 10 before being discharged to recover at home.
His cremation took place on November 25 in Mumbai, where several industry icons — including Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Salim Khan — arrived to pay their final respects.
A prayer meet titled Celebration of Life was held on Thursday, with Shah Rukh Khan, Rekha, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai and many others joining the Deol family in remembering the veteran star.
Final Words
From co-stars to fans, the wave of love pouring in for Dharmendra shows just how deeply he touched people’s lives. Mukesh Khanna’s emotional remembrance adds another tender layer to the legacy of a man celebrated not just for his films, but for the warmth and humanity he carried with him until the very end.
