Veteran actor Dharmendra’s death at the age of 89 has left the Hindi film industry grieving. On November 24, concerns about his health intensified after an ambulance with tight security arrived at his Juhu residence. Later in the day, his family and several major film personalities—Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and others—were seen at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai for the funeral.
Among the many heartfelt tributes, screenwriter Honey Irani shared memories that highlighted Dharmendra’s warmth and protective nature. Honey, a former child actor and the mother of filmmakers Farhan and Zoya Akhtar, worked with Dharmendra in four films during her early years. Although some of her projects never released, films like Rajnish Bahl’s Soorat Aur Seerat (1962) received appreciation.
A stunt she never forgot
One of Honey’s clearest memories came from a dangerous stunt sequence early in her career. “The director wanted to shoot us walking between two running trains. It was probably one of the first times such a sequence was attempted in India,” she told The Indian Express. Dharmendra, who played a blind man in the film, refused the director’s instruction to wear dark glasses because he worried it would make the stunt unsafe. “‘Iss bachchi ko kuchh ho jayega (This girl may get hurt),’ he said,” Honey recalled. Ignoring the director’s directions, he picked her up in his arms and completed the shot. “He was so protective of me. That feeling is something I still can’t fully explain.”
A bond that lasted decades
Honey also remembered the affectionate bond they shared long after those early films. Whenever Dharmendra met her, he joked, “Mera beta hai tu (You’re my son).” He would laugh about how she had played his daughter in some films and his son in others, teasing, “Beta hai ya beti, samajh hi nahin aata (Can’t tell if you were my son or daughter).”
Their paths crossed again years later on the sets of Seeta Aur Geeta, which starred Hema Malini and was written by Javed Akhtar, whom Honey later married. Although she and Dharmendra appeared together only in the climax, he was shocked to see how much she had grown. “Arey, tu itni badi ho gayi! Pehle toh shorts pehen ke aati thi, ab saree pehen ke khadi hai! (You’ve grown up so much! You used to come in shorts, and now you’re standing here in a sari!),” she remembered him saying with amusement.
After Honey transitioned into screenwriting in the 1990s, she did not work with Dharmendra again, but he continued to appear in several films written by Javed Akhtar, including the iconic Sholay (1975) and Chacha Bhatija (1977).
Remembering his versatility and kindness
Reflecting on his legacy, Honey said Dharmendra’s versatility was often overlooked. “He could do commercial films like Sholay, but he also delivered powerful performances in films like Satyakam (1969). His range was much wider than people realise,” she said.
More than his craft, it was his character that stayed with her. “He was one of the kindest, nicest and most humble people I met in the industry. It’s a huge loss not only for cinema but for humanity,” she added.
Honey last met Dharmendra two to three years ago. She remembered him being full of enthusiasm and excited about returning to work in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) and Ikkis (2025). “He was still eager to keep going. His warmth and kindness were still the same. We will miss him terribly,” she said.
Her memories reveal a truth echoed by many, who were close to Dharmendra: long before he became a legend, he was a genuinely kind man—and that is the part people will miss the most.
Also Read: “Dharmendra’s death is impossible to process,” says Saira Banu
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