Dharmendra’s nephew, Buta Singh Deol, has now told media: “He came to the village in 2015–16 when he transferred 19

kanal and three marla of land (1 acre is 8 kanal) to my father Manjit Singh and my uncle Shingara Singh, who has since

passed away. Since he had left for Mumbai decades ago, our family has been taking care of the land and tilling it. He

never forgot his roots or us.”

ALSO READ | Emotional Sunny and Bobby Deol immerse Dharmendra’s ashes in the Ganga at Haridwar amid tight security

Buta added that despite the fame and adulation surrounding him, Dharmendra always stayed in touch with his family and

childhood friends in Punjab. “Dharmendra uncle was my father Manjit Singh’s cousin. The last time he came to the village

was in 2019, when his son Sunny Deol contested the parliamentary elections from Gurdaspur. I also went there to campaign

for him.”

He recalled how every year, his family travelled to meet the actor with updates on the ancestral land. “My grandfather,

my father, and later I would go to Mumbai annually to show Dharmendra the land-assessment papers, so he knew the

property was intact. A few years ago, he personally came and transferred the land to my father and uncle as a gesture of

trust and gratitude.”

Buta shared that he remained in regular contact with his uncle and had spoken to him just two months ago.

ALSO READ | Dharmendra’s mom met Hema Malini secretly

Story continues below this ad

Dharmendra’s father, a government school teacher, was frequently transferred, and the family eventually settled in

Sahnewal, where the young Dharmendra spent much of his early life.