Amitabh Bachchan Remembers His 'Sholay' Co-Star Dharmendra After His Death At 89, 'Dharam Ji...'

Dharmendra is no more, and this time, it’s unfortunately not a hoax. On Monday, November 24, 2025, Bollywood lost one of its brightest stars, its one and only ‘He-Man’, just two weeks after Dharmendra returned home from a serious health battle. His passing at 89, days before his 90th birthday, marks a devastating loss for fans and the Bollywood fraternity alike. And now, the late actor’s Sholay co-star, Amitabh Bachchan, aka ‘Jay’, is remembering ‘Veeru’ for the actor’s unmatched contributions to Indian cinema.

Amitabh Bachchan pens a heartfelt note remembering Dharmendra

The Indian film industry has been left reeling after the tragic loss of Dharmendra, but for his colleagues and co-stars, the silence is deafening. With what everyone’s rightfully calling ‘the end of an era, Amitabh Bachchan has lent voice to this profound loss in his recent social media post. Taking to his X handle, the veteran actor wrote:

“Another valiant Giant has left us ..  left the arena .. leaving behind a silence with an unbearable sound… Dharam ji… the epitome of  greatness,  ever linked not only for his renowned physical presence, but for the largeness of his heart, and its most endearing simplicity.”

Big B remembered Dharmendra not only for his magnetic on-screen presence but also for his humility off it. Despite ruling Indian cinema for more than six decades, he remained the same grounded boy from Punjab, unchanged by fame or stature. The 83-year-old actor added:

"He brought with him the earthiness of the village in Punjab he came from, and remained true to its temperament .. un soiled throughout his glorious career, in a fraternity that witnessed changes every decade .. .. the fraternity underwent changes .. not him .. his smile, his charm and his warmth, extending to all that came in his vicinity .. a rarity in the profession ..The air about us swings vacant .. .. a vacuum that shall ever remain vacuus .. .. prayers."

Amitabh Bachchan pays his last, teary-eyed visit to Dharmendra

Shortly after news of Dharmendra’s passing was confirmed, a visibly heartbroken Amitabh Bachchan rushed to pay his final respects to his Sholay co-star. Images from the veteran actor’s last rites at Mumbai’s Pawan Hans crematorium quickly surfaced online, showing Amitabh, joined by Abhishek and Agastya, looking deeply emotional as he said goodbye to his beloved ‘Veeru’.

When Dharmendra convinced Ramesh Sippy to cast Amitabh Bachchan for Sholay

Nearly five decades have passed since Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra created the unforgettable duo, ‘Jai’ and ‘Veeru’, in Sholay, a friendship that remains iconic in Indian cinema. The on-screen chemistry between the two actors remains one of the most loved friendships in Indian cinema. But few know Amitabh wasn’t the filmmakers’ first pick for 'Jai'. In a June 2025 interview with ANI, Dharmendra revealed that the role had initially gone to Shatrughan Sinha. 

Dharmendra admitted he personally recommended Bachchan for the part, a decision that became one of the biggest turning points of Big B’s career. Amitabh, who was new to the industry back then, often visited Dharmendra on set, and the latter was impressed by his deep voice and sensed great potential. He shared:

“Yes, I recommended him. Mai to kehta nahi maine unko (Amitabh Bachchan) role dilaya. Ye mujhe milne aate the Amitabh sahab. He used to sit next to me. To maine Ramesh Sippy ji ko kaha yeh naya ladka hai uski awaaz se to lagta hai bahut acha kaam karega. Unki jo andar se chahna thi. Jo khud se pyar karne ki khoobsurati thi vo achi lagi.. maine kaha inko lelo.”

Dharmendra’s last film, Ikkis, hits the theatres next month

Dharmendra’s final film will be Ikkis, starring Agastya Nanda. Although it was initially slated for an October 2 release, the date was later shifted to Christmas. The film offers a powerful look into the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, and is now scheduled to release on December 25, 2025. With Dharmendra’s passing, Ikkis will stand as the last on-screen memory of the legendary actor.

Rest in peace, legend!

Read Next: Dharmendra's Old Remark On Telling Amitabh, 'Mera Jai Bulaye Mei Na Aau' Goes Viral Amid His Demise

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)