'Dharmendra Was Critical': Ameesha Patel Recalls How She, Shah Rukh And Salman Khan Hugged Sunny Deol In Hospital

Dharmendra, one of the celebrated actors in the Hindi film industry, died at the age of 89 in Mumbai. The late legendary actor was reportedly treated at the Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital for a week before being released. But two weeks later, on November 24, 2025, the Sholay actor said goodbye to the world. While big names like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and others paid their last respects at Pawan Hans ground, Ameesha Patel couldn't reach. The Gadar star, who is very close to the Deol family, was unable to attend Dharmendra's funeral because she was in New York at the time.

Ameesha Patel opened up about her visit to Dharmendra to the hospital while speaking to News18. She revealed with a sorrowful heart that she was unable to get in touch with the family at this time due to their emotional suffering.

Ameesha Patel went on to say that Dharmendra was in extremely severe condition when she and other celebrities visited him at the hospital. The actor's family was tense, according to her, and they barely stayed for ten minutes to give Sunny Deol a hug before leaving.

"It was a very tense situation and they needed to be left alone even at that time. He was in a very critical situation. Whether it was Shah Rukh, Salman or me, we were there briefly for ten minutes just to hug Sunny. It was a moment he couldn’t wrap his head around since it was about a person he loves the most, " Ameesha Patel recalled.

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In the same conversation, Ameesha Patel revealed that she used to communicate with the late actor frequently because she was meant to work with Dharmendra on a movie before Kaho Na Pyaar Hai. She said that the veteran actor gave her a sense of belonging to the Deol family.

Ameesha Patel went on to say that she last spoke with veteran actor Aamir Khan at his daughter Ira Khan's reception, during which they discussed the movie they were meant to collaborate on. When they met anyplace, Dharmendra would always give her a hug and call her 'Sakina,' according to Ameesha, who also stated that he had a good recall.

ALSO READ - Priest Who Performed Veteran Actor Dharmendra's Last Rites Reveals 'All Family Members Were Present'

Ameesha Patel's Emotional Note For Dharmendra

Ameesha Patel paid her heartfelt condolences on her official Instagram handle. Sharing a throwback picture with the veteran star, she wrote, "Dharamji I will miss ur warm hugs n u screaming “ARREY MERI SAKINA “” when u used to see me from a distance n I used to run to hug u !! V hard to say farewell to the incredible man that Dharamji was !! Some losses are irreplaceable n will leave a vacuum n a void forever !!"

She added, "A man that was the OG He man n looks that cud give anyone in Hollywood a run for their money !! But what he leaves behind is not merely a legacy of super stardom n fame but a legacy of being the most TERRIFIC HUMAN Being !! A rarity to be remembered on purely Humanitarian grounds in today’s world !! OM Shanti !! Heaven is a better place because ur there now love you (sic)."

 

 

 

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Meanwhile, Dharmendra leaves behind six children, including Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and Esha Deol, as well as his two spouses, Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini. On social media, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth, Allu Arjun, Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt and several others expressed their sadness over the legendary actor's demise.

Dharmendra will posthumously star in Sriram Raghavan-directed film Ikkis. The movie, also starring Agastya Nanda, Jaideep Ahlawat will hit the big screens on December 25.