As tributes pour in for legendary actor Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24, 2025, one of the most moving remembrances has come from actor Nikitin Dheer. The Sholay star’s death has reopened deeply emotional memories for Nikitin — especially one phone call that captured the extraordinary warmth Dharmendra carried till the end.
The phone call from the ICU that Nikitin will “never forget”
In his heartfelt Instagram note, Nikitin revealed that when his father, veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, passed away on October 15, 2025, Dharmendra was himself hospitalised in the ICU. Despite being critically unwell, the actor made it a point to call Nikitin’s mother to express his condolences.Nikitin wrote, “When my Dad passed, Dharam uncle called my Mom from the ICU and expressed his love and condolences. He told Mom he would be back home soon, not to worry.”This simple gesture, made from a hospital bed, is what Nikitin considers the clearest reflection of Dharmendra’s “golden heart.”
“We grew up in his arms”: A bond that went beyond cinema
Nikitin shared that he and his family shared a very special, decades-long relationship with Dharmendra. He recalled how he and his late father often discussed the greatest hero Indian cinema has ever seen — and Pankaj Dheer always had one answer: Dharmendra.“My Dad would say Dharam uncle — the most manly, the most handsome, the most humble, and the man with a golden heart.”Nikitin added that for him and his sister, Dharmendra was more than a legendary actor — he was family.“We grew up in his arms… got only love and blessings from him. Always saw him with that smile that lit up the room.”
“No one can fill the space you have left”
Calling Dharmendra’s death a deeply personal loss, Nikitin thanked him for shaping both their childhood and their understanding of integrity.He wrote, “Thank you for filling our childhood with joy. Thank you for showing us what a man can and should be. No one can fill the space you have left. There shall never be another DHARMENDRA.”
Final journey of a legend
Dharmendra, who had been under treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, passed away on November 24 following prolonged illness. His final rites were held at Pawan Hans crematorium, where several industry members — including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar — arrived to pay their respects. A grieving Hema Malini, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and Esha Deol were also present.
