The Deol family has stepped into one of the most emotionally complex moments in their lives. Dharmendra, the pillar who held together two households and generations of Bollywood history, passed away just days before his 90th birthday.
His death has left an unmistakable void, and the days following have brought both grief and public curiosity about how the family would navigate the rituals ahead.
A huge prayer meet was organised in Mumbai on November 27, 2025, at Taj Lands End by Dharmendra’s first wife, Prakash Kaur, along with their sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol.
The prayer meet saw a significant gathering from the film fraternity. However, the absence of Hema Malini and her daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol, quickly became the subject of discussion.
According to an NDTV report, Hema Malini and her daughters – Esha and Ahana did not attend the prayer service at Taj Lands End. Sources told the publication that the event was hosted entirely by the senior Deol family, and that Hema Malini was not a part of the arrangements. This has led to speculation that separate prayer rituals may be in motion across the two households.
A picture of Hema Malini, taken at her Mumbai home on the same day, surfaced online and offered a small window into her emotional state. Dressed in a simple white suit with subtle prints, she appeared visibly shaken while meeting Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who had visited her to offer condolences. Her expression in the photograph suggested the rawness of the loss she is processing privately, away from the larger public gathering.
While Hema Malini did not attend the service hosted by Prakash Kaur and the Deol sons, several celebrities reportedly visited her residence after the main prayer meet ended. Names among the visitors included Mahima Chaudhry, Sunita Ahuja, and Yashvardhan Ahuja. These quiet visits indicated that condolences were being shared across both households, even if rituals were being held separately.
Two pandits were also spotted outside Hema Malini’s bungalow in Mumbai. Many speculating that Hema Malini held a separate prayer meet at her home. Her cousin and actress Madhoo was also seen at that prayer meet.
The Taj Lands End gathering witnessed high attendance from industry colleagues. Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Salman Khan, Rekha, Ameesha Patel, Sidharth Malhotra, Neha Dhupia, Angad Bedi and many others came to pay their respects. Singer Sonu Nigam performed Dharmendra’s iconic songs in a musical tribute that added a nostalgic, emotional layer to the evening.
The question of whether the families will conduct separate prayer ceremonies has not been officially confirmed. But the arrangements so far suggest that both sides are grieving in their own spaces, maintaining dignity while navigating a sensitive moment in a uniquely blended family.
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