Dharmendra’s last film, Ikkis, will release this December. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away this month at the age of 89. He had been dealing with health issues for some time and had been receiving medical attention. He was even hospitalised in Mumbai for some days, concerning fans and well-wishers. The Bollywood actor passed away a few days after being discharged. Recently, his co-star Rakesh Bedi opened up about working with the actor.

In a recent chat with NDTV, Rakesh Bedi said, “All I can say is that he was kind of mad — such actors don’t exist now. He used to care for everyone; he used to care for the unit. Aap unke saath 15 minutes baith jao, toh aapko lagega ki yeh mera aadmi hai aur woh mere baare mein sochta hai (If you sit with him for just 15 minutes, you’ll feel like he’s your own person and that he genuinely cares about you). That was the kind of love he showered upon people around him all the time.”

He added, “He and I have done many films. Ek bohot badi film hai unke saath, bohot hi hit thi (There was a very big film with him, which was a huge hit). He and I were there in key roles. The name was Dadagiri. Since then, I have worked with him in many films. Our last film together was Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. It was my birthday on one of the shooting dates of TBMAUJ. He insisted that ‘cake main mangaoonga (I’ll order the cake)’, and then the crew said, ‘Nahi sir, we will (No sir, we will).’ Then we cut it together. He fed me, and I fed him. It was very sweet of him.”

For the unversed, Dharmendra had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital earlier this month due to reported breathlessness. He was discharged on November 12 as he was on his way to recovery. Doctors said that Dharmendra would continue his treatment at home and that there was no cause for concern. The veteran actor passed away on November 24, just a few weeks before his 90th birthday in December.

Dharmendra’s prayer meet was held on November 27. In a poster that the family released on Wednesday, they revealed that the prayer meet for the actor, who passed away on November 24, was held from 5 pm to 7:30 pm at a hotel in Mumbai. The poster featured a picture of Dharmendra from his younger days and read, ‘Celebration Of Life’.