Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away at the age of 89 on November 24, 2025, leaving the Deol family devastated. In a recent interview with The Times of India, Hema Malini opened up about the distressing media attention the family faced during the actor’s final days.

Paparazzi Invasion During Hospitalisation

Dharmendra was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in early November. On November 10, rumours about his death circulated online, creating panic among fans. Hema Malini and daughter Esha Deol later reassured everyone that the veteran was recovering.

However, during this period, paparazzi crowded around the family’s home, prompting Sunny Deol to lose his cool. The actor reportedly called the photographers “shameless” for invading the family’s privacy during such an emotional time.

Reacting to Sunny’s frustration, Hema Malini said,

“Sunny was getting upset and angry. We were all going through an emotional time, and the media was running behind our cars… harassment bahut hua (a lot of harassment happened).”

Confrontation During Ashes Immersion

After Dharmendra’s passing on November 24, Sunny again confronted photographers while they attempted to film him during the immersion of his father’s ashes. A visibly frustrated Sunny questioned the paparazzi,

“Paise chahiye tereko, kitne paise chahiye? (You want money, how much money do you want?)”

Dharmendra’s Final Film: Ikkis

Dharmendra’s posthumous release, Ikkis, hit theatres on January 1, 2026. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film stars Agastya Nanda in the lead role, alongside Jaideep Ahlawat and Simar Bhatia. The biographical war drama chronicles the bravery and sacrifice of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.

Ikkis received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike and has so far collected ₹20 crore at the domestic box office.