His contribution unforgettable: Union Minister Reddy, CM Omar

Jammu, Nov 24: Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while paying glowing tributes to the iconic actor of Hindi movies, Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday, said that his cinematic contribution would remain unforgettable.

They were responding to media queries after the launch of the maiden e-auction of seven limestone mineral blocks in J&K at the Convention Centre, Jammu.

“Dharmendra had not been keeping well for quite some time. Sadly, we have just received the news of his demise. I pay my homage to the legendary actor and express my heartfelt condolences to his wife, popular film actress and veteran BJP MP Hema Malini. I pray to God to give strength to her and other members of the family to bear this irreparable loss. Dharmendra’s iconic performance along with Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Sholay’ cannot be forgotten by anyone. His rich performances, including action-packed roles, will remain etched in cinema lovers’ memories,” Reddy said.

The Union Minister said that Dharmendra did a good job even as an MP.

“He was a simple, humble person despite being such an iconic personality. As a BJP MP, he visited Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states as well, a number of times in connection with political functions, yet he always behaved like any other BJP worker and never threw tantrums,” Reddy said.

About the actor’s attachment with J&K, the Union Minister said that given the magnificent scenic splendour of J&K, not just Dharmendra but every actor (of his era) shared a special relationship with J&K.

“Since the times of legendary Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand, J&K had been a favourite shooting destination, hence all actors enjoyed special affinity with this place and its people,” he said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while paying glowing tributes to Bollywood veteran, popularly known as ‘He-Man’, nostalgically recalled some of the iconic movies of Dharmendra.

“Since childhood, we have watched his movies. The people of my age group, even if they had not seen any other movie, would have definitely watched ‘Sholay’. I still remember his other movies as well - like ‘The Burning Train’, ‘Shalimar’, and many more. I felt very sad after hearing the news of his passing. He had been ailing for quite some time. However, after he was discharged from the hospital, it was being hoped that he would get well soon. But then it was the will of God,” CM Omar said. “I pay my condolences to the members of his family and pray for peace to the departed soul. His demise is a loss for the entire film industry. He had been a great friend of J&K, though he did not visit here for quite some time. But prior to 1987-88, if not for shooting, he would come here for vacation. His monumental contribution to the world of cinema would never be forgotten,” the CM said.