Malwa Mourns the Passing of Its Star

A quiet sadness has settled over the towns and villages of Ludhiana and Malerkotla as residents come to terms with the loss of one of their most cherished sons, legendary actor Dharmendra. The region had been preparing to celebrate his 90th birthday on December 8, imagining the moment he would once again savour his favourite Punjabi delicacies — makki di roti and sarson da saag — a simple pleasure he often spoke of with warmth. Fate, however, had other plans. The beloved star passed away just weeks before the milestone, leaving behind memories, pride and unspoken wishes.

Dharmendra was born on December 8, 1935, at Nasrali, a village near Ludhiana, though his ancestral roots lay in Dangon village, Raikot subdivision. Known in his youth as Dharam Singh Deol, he came from a modest Deol family, the son of Kewal Krishan and grandson of Narain Dass. Long before the world hailed him as Bollywood’s “He-Man”, he was simply a young Punjabi with a dream and a quiet determination to make his mark.

In 1954, at the age of 19, he married Parkash Kaur Sohi of Banbhaura village in Malerkotla district, forging a bond that tied him closely to the region for life. Even as fame later embraced him, villagers recall how he remained grounded, respectful and deeply connected to his roots.

Local social activist Satbir Singh Sheera Banbhaura reflected the sentiments of many when he described Dharmendra as a symbol of humility and pride for the area. “We prayed for his recovery, but those prayers went unanswered. We have lost not just a film icon, but a simple soul who brought honour to our land,” he said.

Family members and acquaintances shared cherished recollections. Varinder Singh Sohi, a nephew of Parkash Kaur, spoke of his 2005 wedding, which became a spectacle when Dharmendra and his son Sunny Deol attended. Despite their celebrity status, both behaved like ordinary family elders, though villagers crowded rooftops for a glimpse of the film stars.

Others remembered Dharmendra’s life before cinema. Bhushan Lomash of Issi village recalled how he once worked alongside Lomash’s father at the Punjab Tubewell Corporation, visiting him even after achieving stardom. Such gestures reinforced his reputation as a man who never forgot where he came from.

Dharmendra’s journey to stardom began when he left for Mumbai in the late 1950s, encouraged by his wife and family. He fondly remembered a Malerkotla photographer, Jaan Mohammad, who took his photographs for a talent contest in 1958 — a competition he won, although the promised debut film never materialised.

He also harboured dreams of giving back to his native village Dangon, particularly in memory of his father. Advocate Gurinder Singh Lalli recalled discussions about investing in local education initiatives, plans that unfortunately never came to fruition due to various constraints.

As the region mourns, villagers speak of the celebration that never happened — a simple gathering where Dharmendra wished to sit beside a traditional chulha, enjoy home-cooked saag and roti, and ride a humble two-wheeler cart, reliving the joys of his youth. Kulwinder Dangon described how efforts were underway to take freshly prepared saag to Mumbai for the birthday festivities, only for those plans to be undone by destiny.

Today, Malwa stands united in remembrance, proud of the humble young man who rose to become a legend, yet remained forever rooted in the soil of Punjab. Dharmendra may have left the world stage, but in the fields, villages and hearts of his homeland, his legacy will endure for generations to come.