Asha Parekh has opened up about her long-standing reference to Dharmendra, remembering him not simply as a co-star however as somebody who remained an necessary a part of her life lengthy after their movies collectively stopped rolling. Their on-screen pairing delivered a number of memorable classics reminiscent of Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Shikar, Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Samadhi, Chirag, and Kanyadaan, cementing them as one of many iconic duos of Hindi cinema’s golden years.As tributes proceed to pour in following Dharmendra’s loss of life on November 24, 2025, Asha Parekh spoke to NDTV and shared private anecdotes that reveal the heat and humanity of the star she knew.
‘Sunny!’ — Asha Parekh on who resembles Dharmendra probably the most
When requested which of Dharmendra’s kids reminds her most of him, Asha didn’t pause to suppose.“Sunny!” she mentioned instantly.She went on to clarify, “Sunny appears very very like him and can also be a really emotional particular person like Dharam ji.”Her feedback highlighted not simply bodily similarities however the emotional depth and gentleness she related to Dharmendra.
Fond recollections with the Deol household
Asha Parekh’s relationship with the Deols extends far past co-starring in movies. She recalled spending time with Dharmendra’s kids throughout their youthful days, particularly his eldest daughter Vijeta, affectionately referred to as Laali.“She has these images,” Asha mentioned, smiling on the reminiscence of Laali typically sitting in her lap throughout gatherings.She additionally spoke warmly of Hema Malini, describing her as, “An exquisite particular person, and a really robust lady.”These recollections underscore a shared historical past that spans generations.Asha shared that whereas she and Dharmendra didn’t meet regularly, their bond by no means light. She fondly remembered his gesture of attending the launch of her e-book The Hit Woman.Additionally they labored collectively on two actuality exhibits and would often run into one another at public occasions, together with Aamir Khan’s daughter’s wedding ceremony. Every assembly, she mentioned, carried an ease that solely previous friendships possess.
A loss of life scene interrupted by real-life chaos
One in every of Asha Parekh’s most unforgettable recollections got here from the units of Samadhi, throughout a scene the place Dharmendra’s character needed to cry over her supposed loss of life. Hours earlier than the shoot, nevertheless, each actors have been coping with a serious disruption — their houses had been raided by the Revenue Tax Division.“I used to be purported to be useless, and he was crying close to my physique. However on that specific day, each our homes have been raided… My eyes would flutter — they only wouldn’t cease fluttering,” she recalled with amusing.Dharmendra, too, was distressed, and each needed to safe particular permission to report back to set.“It was a really humorous scenario, however at the moment, we have been each very tense,” she added. Even amid her grief, Asha Parekh emphasised a top quality she believed outlined Dharmendra past his stardom.“Stardom by no means touched him,” she mentioned quietly, providing a remaining reflection on the humility that made him beloved each on and off the display screen.