Legendary actor Dharmendra passed away on November 24 in Mumbai but his funeral took place quickly and not many people were informed. Fans were also largely disappointed and felt he should have got a state funeral. There have been several reports suggesting that there could have been some complications between the Deol family and Hema Malini. However, both the families have maintained a dignified silence and they also had two separate funerals to honor the legendary actor. In a recent interview, veteran journalist turned author, columnist, Shobhaa De has opened up on it. She strongly feels that Dharmendra should have got a state funeral but did not understand why it didn’t happen. While she clarified that she’s nobody to comment on the matter, something does seem strange between both the families. Shobhaa De said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani when asked if Dharmendra should have got a state funeral, “I completely agree. I’ve written about it as well. There have been others in the past who were given this honor. Surely someone of Dharmendra’s stature should have got it too. He richly deserved it. He was so loved. It seemed like it was an oversight or political reasons why it didn’t happen. If Sridevi could get a state funeral, who was so loved, surely someone of Dharmendra’s stature should have got one too.,She further added, “Dharmendra was critical, ailing and it was a matter of days, was known to everyone. If something had to be organized, it could have happened. It could have been a matter of hours. I’m not sure why it didn’t happen. It could have taken one phone call herself from Hema, she is a member of the parliament. I’m sure one call from her would have ensured. Who I am to say why it didn’t happen? But it seems strange and disappointing.,When told by the interviewer about the possibility of something not well between both the families as Hema Malini was his second wife, De commented, “Whether she was officially recognized as his wife by the party hierarchy, I have no idea but she consistently referred to him at the Delhi prayer meet as ‘My Dharamji’ and not ‘my husband’. Amit Shah also made it clear that he was there out of respect for Dharam ji. He never said that he was there as Hema’s husband passed away. It is some decision that I know nothing about so who am I to comment on it, but it seems like there were some complications in the dynamics between both the families.”When further in the interview, Hema Malini’s marriage with Dharmendra was compared to that of Boney Kapoor’s second marriage with Sridevi and how Arjun Kapoor could not accept it, Shobhaa said, “There’s a big difference because Mona (Kapoor) passed away, and in this case there were two parallel families over four decades. In death, one normally puts things aside, one respects the sentiments of the parallel family. One respects the fact that Dharam ji has always acknowledged them as his own, his daughters particularly and certainly Hema. So, to deny access, if it was denied, I think may be some more grace should have been shown, to respect the person who is gone, whose emotions should be considered as well.,Shobhaa De further concluded, “It wasn’t like Dharamji had walked away from either of the family. He was as important in Hema’s life as he was in the lives of the Deols. I would say, a person who thinks about the person who is gone and respects those sentiments, emotions, rises above those his own personal feelings and shows to the world that he/she or the family is bigger than whatever may have happened between two adult people who chose to be with one another and loved one another. There were two children from that marriage. So, I feel it was only the right thing to do, to dignify your late father’s memory by honoring that family and including them. It would have shown the Deol family in a far better light than excluding them.”
