Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has crafted a breathtaking sand sculpture at Puri Beach in Odisha to honour legendary Bollywood icon Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday. The tribute has drawn widespread admiration from fans, artists, and film enthusiasts across the country.
The impressive 5-foot-long sculpture, created using nearly six tonnes of sand, captures Dharmendra’s charismatic screen presence and celebrates his extraordinary contribution to Indian cinema. Pattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee, described the veteran actor as “an emotion for millions”, reflecting on his remarkable six-decade career that spanned over 300 films.
The sand art features the heartfelt message, “RIP Dharmendra Ji, End of an Era,” symbolizing the nation’s collective respect for the beloved actor. Sharing the artwork on his X handle, Pattnaik wrote:
“A heartfelt tribute to the evergreen legend Dharmendra Ji — truly the end of an era in Indian cinema.”
The tribute has garnered overwhelming appreciation on social media, with celebrities and fans expressing their condolences and sharing cherished memories of Dharmendra’s most iconic performances.
Dharmendra’s unforgettable roles in classics such as Sholay, Phool Aur Patthar, and Chupke Chupke continue to inspire generations. His powerful dialogues — including “Kutte, kamine, main tera khoon pi jaaunga!” and the timeless “Basanti, in kutton ke saamne mat nachna!” — remain deeply embedded in India’s cultural memory.
