Sudarsan Pattnaik Pays Sand Art Tribute to Dharmendra

Bhubaneswar: Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has crafted a heartfelt tribute to legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday. The sculpture, displayed at Puri Beach in Odisha, stands 5 feet long and was created using nearly six tonnes of sand.

Pattnaik’s artwork beautifully captures Dharmendra’s iconic presence on screen, honouring the actor’s remarkable six-decade career that spanned more than 300 films. Calling Dharmendra “an emotion for millions,” the Padma Shri awardee reflected on the star’s immense contribution to Indian cinema.

The sand sculpture bears the message “RIP Dharmendra Ji, End of an Era,” symbolising the nation’s collective grief and admiration. Sharing the tribute 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 gesture has received widespread appreciation on social media, with celebrities and fans expressing their condolences and revisiting cherished memories of the beloved actor. Dharmendra’s unforgettable performances in classics like Sholay, Phool Aur Patthar, and Chupke Chupke, along with iconic lines such as “Kutte, kamine, main tera khoon pi jaaunga!” and “Basanti, in kutton ke saamne mat nachna!”, continue to resonate across generations.