Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who shared a long association with Dharmendra and directed him in several films, recently recalled his last meeting with the late superstar. Sharma revealed that during their conversation, Dharmendra expressed a deep desire to return to what he called his first love — cinema — and urged the filmmaker to write a powerful role for him.
Speaking on Hussain Zaidi’s YouTube channel Hussain Zaidi Files, Anil said, “I went to meet Bobby Deol at their home in September. Dharmendra ji was sitting there and a lot of people used to come and meet him and he used to meet all of them. He met me also and hugged me. He asked me what am I doing?”
Remembering Dharmendra’s heartfelt request, Sharma added, “He told me yaar Anil beta mere liye ek bahut kamaal ka role likh. Mujhe kuch karna hai abhi, camera meri mehbooba hai, woh mujhe bula rahi hai. Mujhe jaana hai uske paas. Kuch kar abhi. Koi aacha role likh (Write an amazing role for me. I want to do something. Camera is my love and it is calling me. I want to go to the camera. Write a good role for me.).”
The filmmaker shared that Dharmendra repeated this request three times during their meeting. “Dharmendra ji told this to me to 3 times. I promised him that I will write a role for him. I didn’t know that after a few months he will pass away. This was my last meeting with him. I thought that he is going to turn 90 and look at his zeal. He still loves cinema so much, it is not a business for him, it is his love.”
Earlier, in a conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Anil recalled visiting Dharmendra at his home after the veteran actor was discharged from the hospital. He said, “I went to his home. He had recovered. He would open his eyes and he would even move his hands. He was recovering and doctors were saying that Dharamji bahut strong aadmi hai (Dharamji is a very strong man).”
He further added, “Doctors also assured that he would recover and even in the hospital, it looked like he would recover. But the age shows its signs, and you can’t do anything in front of age. Everyone was hopeful that he would recover and that we would celebrate his birthday on December 8. Everyone was preparing.”
Story continues below this ad
Dharmendra would have turned 90 on December 8. The legendary actor passed away on November 24.
