Former track and field star PT Usha, who is widely known as the ‘queen of track and field,’ has been a trailblazer in women’s sports in India. Recently, after the death of legendary Indian actor Dharmendra Ji, the former athlete revealed a heartfelt gesture in honour of giving tribute to him.
PT Usha took to her X account and shared that the late actor had gifted her prize money worth Rs. 50,000 as a token of appreciation for her impressive win at the 1986 Asian Games. Representing India in the Games, she secured 4 gold medals and 1 silver medal.
The tweet read, “In 1986 after winning 4🥇 & 1 🥈 at the Asian Games, Dharmendra Ji sent me Rs. 50,000 /- cash prize for my achievement.”
In the 1986 Asian Games, India finished the medal tally at No. 5 with 37 medals won in total. Among the 37, five were gold, out of which four came from Usha, nine were silver, and 23 were bronze.
She further went on to express the regret of not being able to meet the actor in person due to their involvement in respective professional careers.
The post also read, “We couldn’t meet personally due to our busy schedules but sometimes love & affection are enough to keep the hearts connected even 1000 miles apart. RIP 🙏”
Besides his role as an actor, Dharmendra Ji is known for his humility and warmth both on and off-screen. The kind of generosity he had showcased from an unknown incident like this also showed his support for sports personalities.
Dharmendra dies at 89
On Monday, November 24, veteran actor Dharmendra Ji passed away at the age of 89. Popularly known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood, his acting career lasted for around six decades, appearing in over 250 films across different genres, from dramas to comedies to timeless romance.
Born in 1935 in Punjab, Dharmendra Ji’s career debut was in the movie Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960). Soon his career peaked with hits like Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Anupama (1966), and Bandini (1963). Some of the most celebrated works of his acting career are Sholay (1975), Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Satyakam (1969), and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972).
(Inputs sourced from Mid-Day)
