Legendary Director Ramesh Sippy paid an emotional tribute to the late Dharmendra during a session titled “50 years of Sholay: Why Sholay still resonates” at the 56th International Film Festival of India on Thursday.
Recalling the legendary actor, who passed away on 24 November at the age of 89, Sippy said it had been “difficult” to speak about him and described Dharmendra as “the most wonderful man” and “one of the finest ever.”
The filmmaker emphasised that while cinema will continue to produce great actors, “there will be no Dharmendra again,” praising him for his warmth, humility and extraordinary screen presence.
Sippy and Dharmendra shared a friendship that lasted five decades, cemented by the iconic success of Sholay, where Dharmendra’s portrayal of Veeru became a career-defining milestone.
Sippy added that he recently met Sunny and Bobby Deol, expressing his deep sense of loss and wishing the actor peace “in his new home, wherever he is.” The restored 4K version of Sholay is set for a nationwide theatrical release on December 12.
