Dharmendra’s Malayali connection: Late Bollywood legend will no longer call friend Saifullah in Tirur

Tirur: Bollywood legend Dharmendra will no longer be calling Saifullah Cholakkal with his customary festival and birthday wishes. Saifullah, a native of Naduvilangadi in Tirur, shared a close friendship with the late actor — a bond that began in 2001 with a phone call he says he will never forget.

Saifullah said he first rang Dharmendra on his landline, introducing himself as an ardent admirer of both Mohammed Rafi “sahib” and the actor. He told Dharmendra he had watched 225 of his films and owned DVDs of 150 of them. Impressed by the conversation, Dharmendra invited him home.

In 2001, Saifullah flew from Karipur to Mumbai. On arriving at the actor’s residence, he met personal secretary Navalji, who ushered him inside on Dharmendra’s instructions. Saifullah recalls touching Dharmendra’s feet and embracing him. The actor welcomed him with lassi made from milk sourced from his farmhouse. From that day, Saifullah affectionately called him “bhaiyya”. Their friendship grew, and Dharmendra made it a habit to call Saifullah every year on the occasion of Eid and on his birthday.

During the 2018 Kerala floods, Dharmendra phoned Saifullah to check on him, telling him to bring his family to Mumbai if needed and stay at his Lonavala farmhouse. “I cannot express how happy that made me,” Saifullah said. He visited Dharmendra’s Mumbai home nine times, the last visit being in 2020. His final phone conversation with the actor took place six months ago.

Dharmendra passed away on November 24, after being hospitalised due to prolonged illness.