IFFI 2025 pays homage to legendary actor Dharmendra
What's the story
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) paid a heartfelt tribute to legendary actor Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025. The tribute was held a day later on Tuesday and featured renowned filmmaker Rahul Rawail delivering an emotional address. He shared personal memories of working with the late actor and urged the audience to celebrate his extraordinary life while acknowledging the immense pain his family must be experiencing.
Dedication
Rawail reminisced about Dharmendra's dedication and work ethic
Rawail, who worked as an Assistant Director on Mera Naam Joker (1970) and was involved in Betaab (1983), remembered Dharmendra's unwavering dedication to his craft. He recalled how the actor would take an evening flight to Delhi every day for nearly a month during Mera Naam Joker, shoot until 5:00am and then fly back to Mumbai to continue filming Aadmi Aur Insaan. "He was an iconic actor and an exceptional human being," said Rawail.
Legacy
About 'Betaab,' his son Sunny's debut movie
Rawail also shared anecdotes from the making of his directorial Betaab, which marked Dharmendra's son Sunny Deol's debut in Hindi cinema. He recalled how crowds would gather in large numbers during the Kashmir shoot just to catch a glimpse of Dharmendra. After Betaab was released, the actor reportedly watched his son's debut every evening at Gaiety Cinema in Mumbai for several days. Each time, Dharmendra would visit Rawail's residence to speak about the film.
Personal bond
Rawail described Dharmendra as a father figure
Rawail went on to describe Dharmendra as a father figure who supported and guided him throughout his career. He also praised the late actor for being a thoughtful and committed producer. "Dharam ji was a man whose life deserved to be celebrated because he brought immense joy to people," Rawail said. He expressed pride that Dharmendra's children continue to carry forward his remarkable legacy.
Tribute
'We've lost a great human being': Rawail
In his concluding remarks, Rawail said, "We've lost a great human being. We were fortunate to have lived in times when icons like Dharmendra ji were working." He thanked the IFFI organizers for arranging a special homage to honor the timeless star. Notably, IFFI was already celebrating 50 years of Dharmendra's iconic film Sholay. Even Jai and Veeru's legendary bike is on display in Panaji, Goa.