Veteran actor Dharmendra, who passed away at the age of 89 on November 24 at his Juhu residence in Mumbai, left behind a rich cinematic legacy and considerable wealth. While the Deol family has reportedly remained harmonious regarding his estate, fresh reports reveal that one major asset, the actor’s ancestral land in Punjab, will not be inherited by his children. Instead, Dharmendra had transferred the agricultural property to his cousins nearly a decade ago.
Punjab Land Gifted During His Lifetime
Born Dharam Singh Deol in Nasrali, Punjab, Dharmendra spent his childhood in the nearby village of Dangon before moving to Mumbai in the 1950s to pursue films. The family-owned farmland in Dangon continued to be looked after by his cousins and their children for decades, long after Dharmendra had shifted to Bombay.
According to multiple reports, the agricultural land and the house on it—valued at around ₹5 crore today—were formally transferred in 2015 to two of his nephews.
His nephew Buta Singh Deol told The New Indian Express: “Dharmendra uncle was my father Manjit Singh’s cousin… Before that, he came to the village in 2015-16 when he transferred 19 kanal and three marla land to my father Manjit Singh and my uncle Shingara Singh (now deceased).”
Why Dharmendra Chose His Cousins Over His Children
Buta Singh further explained the emotional reasoning behind the actor’s decision.
“As he had left decades ago for Mumbai, our family has been taking care of his land, and we have been tilling it. He never forgot his roots and us,” he said.
The statement echoes the long-standing bond Dharmendra maintained with his extended family in Punjab, whom he visited periodically even after becoming a towering figure in Hindi cinema.
A Look at the Deol Family
Dharmendra was father to six children. With his first wife Prakash Kaur, whom he married in 1954, he had four children, including actors Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. In 1980, he married actor Hema Malini without divorcing Prakash; their daughters Esha and Ahana were born from this marriage.
The actor had been unwell in the weeks leading up to his passing and was briefly hospitalised in early November. After returning home, he spent his final days surrounded by family. His funeral and subsequent prayer meet saw an outpouring of respect from industry colleagues and fans alike.