NEW DELHI: Veteran Bollywood icon Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday at the age of 89 in Mumbai, is being remembered not only for his timeless films but also for his warmth, humility and deep affection for Indian sport. As tributes continue to pour in for the star of Sholay, Phool Aur Patthar and Chupke Chupke, an old post of him dedicated to India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has resurfaced on social media, leaving fans emotional.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Dharmendra, a passionate cricket follower, had hailed Siraj’s courage in January 2021, shortly after India’s historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia. Siraj lost his father, Mohammed Ghouse, in November 2020 while serving a mandatory COVID-19 quarantine with the Indian team. Despite being given the option to return home, the then 26-year-old chose to stay back and fulfil his late father’s dream of watching him play Test cricket.
Siraj went on to play three Tests in the four-match series and emerged as one of India’s leading wicket-takers on the tour with 13 wickets, playing a pivotal role in the 2-1 victory. Upon returning to Hyderabad, the pacer drove straight from the airport to the Khairatabad graveyard to pay respects at his father’s resting place — an image that deeply moved Dharmendra.Sharing Siraj’s photo, the veteran actor wrote on X: “Siraj, Braveheart son of India… Naaz hai tujh par… dil par walid ki maut ka sadma liye tum watan ki aan ke liye match khelte rahe… aur ek unhoni jeet watan ke naam darj kar ke lote… Kal tujhe apne walid ki qabbr par dekh kar mun bhar aaya. Jannat naseeb ho unhein.”
Dharmendra’s post on Siraj
The post remains a poignant reminder of Dharmendra’s humanity beyond the screen. Meanwhile, Siraj is currently part of India’s Test squad against South Africa, with the hosts trailing 0-1 in the two-match series.
