Punjab’s Phagwara prays for speedy recovery of its ‘son’ Dharmendra

As reports of veteran actor Dharmendra’s hospitalisation in Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital surfaced on Tuesday morning, anxiety and prayers gripped the town of Phagwara, which has long considered the Bollywood legend its own son. From temples to gurdwaras, residents are praying for his swift recovery, recalling with pride and affection the actor’s deep-rooted connection to their city.

Born in Sahnewal near Ludhiana, Dharmendra spent his early years in Phagwara, where his father Master Kewal Krishan Chaudhary served as a respected mathematics and social studies teacher at Arya High School. The young Dharmendra completed his matriculation there in 1950 and later pursued his intermediate studies at Ramgarhia College, graduating in 1952 before heading to Mumbai — a journey that would transform him into one of Indian cinema’s most beloved stars.

“Dharmendra was a simple, soft-spoken boy who carried a sparkle in his eyes,” recalled Senior Advocate S N Chopra, his classmate at Arya High School. “Even then, his humility stood out — he was one of us, and he remained so throughout his life.”

Despite achieving immense fame, Dharmendra’s bond with Phagwara never faded. Locals fondly remember how he would stay with his cousin Hakim Sat Pal during visits and make time to meet childhood friends — including Advocate Shiv Chopra, Harjit Singh Parmar, philanthropist Kuldip Sardana, and Aman Committee President Late Manohar Lal Kaura.

“Every time he came, he wanted to know about everyone — his school, his teachers, even the old Paradise Theatre,” said Advocate Chopra. “He might have lived in Mumbai, but his heart always belonged to Phagwara.”

In a humorous anecdote still shared among locals, Dharmendra once revealed that before his acting career began, he had been rejected for the role of ‘Sikandar’ in a local Ram Lila performance organised by the Quami Sewak Ram Lila Committee. Years later, during a visit to the town, he jokingly asked his friend Kaura, “Can I play a role in Ram Lila now?” — a line that left his friends both laughing and teary-eyed.

Dharmendra’s emotional connection to the town was most visible during his 2006 visit to inaugurate the Gurbachan Singh Parmar Complex, built on the site of the old Paradise Theatre — the same cinema where he had watched films as a boy, dreaming of the silver screen. Standing before a sea of admirers, Dharmendra’s voice choked with emotion as he declared, “Phagwara Zindabad!”

For the people of Phagwara, that moment remains unforgettable. Streets were filled with cheering fans, children showered petals, and elders wept with pride. “He made us feel like family,” said Harjit Singh Parmar, adding that Dharmendra and his wife Parkash Kaur often visited his home to seek blessings from his late mother.

Dharmendra often spoke fondly of his father’s role in shaping his values. Master Kewal Krishan Chaudhary’s legacy as a disciplined yet compassionate teacher continues to live on at Arya High School, where former students still speak of his dedication. This correspondent, once among his students, remembers his rare combination of firmness and empathy — qualities mirrored in Dharmendra’s own life and career.

As Dharmendra battles illness, Phagwara’s residents have united in prayer. From the Arya High School campus to the site of the old Paradise Theatre, fans are lighting candles and offering prayers for the recovery of their beloved “Dharam Paaji.”

His words from 2006 resonate deeply today: “I am a farmer’s son from Punjab. Whatever I am today, I owe to this land and its people.”

For Phagwara, Dharmendra is not merely a film legend — he is a symbol of humility, aspiration and unwavering love for one’s roots. As prayers continue to pour in, one heartfelt slogan echoes through the streets: “Phagwara Zindabad — Dharmendra Amar Rahe.”