A wave of heartfelt tributes poured in from the Deol family on what would have been Dharmendra’s 90th birth anniversary, as his children and nephew remembered the legendary actor with deep affection. Hours after Esha Deol shared an emotional message honouring her father, Sunny Deol also took to Instagram to post a touching memory that captured the warmth of their bond.
Sunny shared a short video from one of their trips to a hill station, offering fans a glimpse of a tender father–son moment. In the clip, Sunny asks, “Papa, are you enjoying?” Dharmendra, relaxed and smiling, replies lovingly, “I am really enjoying my son.” Sunny responds softly, “It’s beautiful.” Alongside the video, Sunny added a brief yet deeply personal caption in Hindi: “Aaj meri papa ka janamdin hai. Papa humesha mere saath hai. Love you papa. Miss you.” His words reflected the profound void left by the actor’s passing on November 24.
Earlier in the day, Esha Deol had posted a touching picture with her father and wrote a poetic tribute. She described their bond as eternal, saying, “Our pact, the strongest bond … through all our lifetimes, all the realms and beyond. We are always together, papa. Be it heaven or earth. We are one.” She went on to express how painfully she misses him—his protective hugs, the comforting feel of his hands, his affectionate voice calling her name, and their long conversations filled with laughter and shayari. She also recalled his life mantra: “Always be humble, be happy, healthy & strong.”
Their cousin Abhay Deol joined in with his own emotional remembrance, sharing a rare childhood photograph. He recounted a memory of being upset as a child when Dharmendra gently called him over and asked him to “look at the light” for a picture. Abhay wrote that he hopes to one day hear those words again, hinting at the deep bond they shared.
Dharmendra, father to Sunny, Bobby, Esha, and Ahana Deol, had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital earlier in November after his health declined. Though he returned home under medical supervision, he passed away soon after. His family’s tributes highlight not only his stature as one of Indian cinema’s most beloved stars but also the irreplaceable presence he held within their lives.