Director Ramesh Sippy paid an emotional tribute to late actor Dharmendra during the 56th International Film Festival of India on Thursday. Speaking at a session marking 50 years of Sholay, Sippy shared heartfelt memories of the legendary actor who passed away this week at 89 years old. The two shared a friendship spanning five decades. Dharmendra's iconic role as Veeru in Sholay launched him into superstardom and remains unforgettable. Sippy described him as a wonderful human being and a magnificent actor whose place can never be filled. He expressed that while the film industry will see other talented actors, there will never be another Dharmendra. The director also mentioned meeting Dharmendra's sons Sunny and Bobby recently. Meanwhile, the restored 4K version of Sholay is scheduled for theatrical release across India on December 12.
Ramesh Sippy's Emotional Remembrance of Dharmendra
During the session titled '50 years of Sholay: Why Sholay still resonates', director Ramesh Sippy struggled to hold back emotions while discussing Dharmendra. He stated it had been difficult talking about him since his passing. Sippy described Dharmendra as one of the finest human beings and absolutely magnificent both as a person and as an actor. He acknowledged that the Indian film industry would produce other good actors, but emphasized that Dharmendra's unique place would remain unfilled. The director admitted he would miss him deeply and had recently messaged and met with Dharmendra's sons, Sunny and Bobby. Sippy concluded by wishing Dharmendra peace in his new home, wherever that might be.
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