The news of legendary actor Dharmendra being discharged from Breach Candy Hospital, after being admitted for breathlessness, brought a sense of relief to many, including myself. It’s heartening to know he is now home and recovering, as confirmed by doctors and his family Dharmendra Health Updates: Dharmendra discharged from hospital, says doctor from Breach Candy - The Times of India.
What truly struck me, however, was the frenzy that preceded this good news. False reports of Dharmendra's passing flooded social media, causing unnecessary distress to his loved ones and fans alike. His wife, Hema Malini, along with their daughter Esha Deol and son Sunny Deol's team, had to explicitly refute these baseless rumors, with Hema Malini rightly calling such acts "unforgivable" and "disrespectful" Dharmendra Health Updates: Dharmendra discharged from hospital, says doctor from Breach Candy - The Times of India.
This incident immediately brought to mind my earlier reflections on media sensationalism, where I discussed the "man bites dog" principle man bites dog. I highlighted how commonplace issues, even critical ones like millions suffering from inaccessible healthcare, often go unnoticed, while extraordinary, sometimes fabricated, events capture all the attention. The spread of celebrity death hoaxes, unfortunately, fits this pattern perfectly. It is a stark reminder of what I termed "crimes of commissions and omissions" CRIMES OF COMMISSIONS AND OMISSIONS, where the focus remains on sensational but often less impactful stories, diverting attention from the systemic challenges.
Indeed, the core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I had already predicted this outcome or challenge, and I had even proposed a solution at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
The outpouring of concern from the film fraternity was immense and genuinely heartwarming. Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol were seen at the hospital, visibly distressed, while Esha Deol and Hema Malini were also present. Esha even had a poignant encounter with Dharmendra’s first wife, Prakash Kaur, years ago, touching her feet, which speaks volumes about the bonds within families, even those separated by circumstances Dharmendra Health Updates: Dharmendra discharged from hospital, says doctor from Breach Candy - The Times of India. His nephew, Abhay Deol, also visited, as did Esha's ex-husband, Bharat Takhtani.
Many of Dharmendra's colleagues and friends showed their support. Aamir Khan and his girlfriend Gauri Spratt visited, as did Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, whom Dharmendra fondly calls his "sons." Veteran actor Prem Chopra expressed his concern from his own hospital bed. Bina Kak, a politician and actress, reminisced about meeting him in 1986. Bhagyashree publicly apologized for inadvertently sharing a condolence post based on false news, highlighting the pervasive nature of such misinformation. Divya Dutta spoke of Dharmendra's special place in everyone's lives, sharing their common hometown of Sahnewal. Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh offered their prayers, as did Ameesha Patel and Bharti Singh.
It reminds me of my own health challenges; the constant pain in my left leg due to herpes and my wife Bharati's ongoing struggle with IBS. In such times, the care of family, like my elder son Vishesh and his wife Niyati, and my granddaughter Aneeri and her husband Elton, becomes paramount My apologies. Seeing the genuine concern for Dharmendra’s well-being from his family, friends, and fans underscores a fundamental human empathy that transcends celebrity status.
While we celebrate Dharmendra's recovery, let's also reflect on the media's responsibility. The quick retraction of false news by some, and the apologies, though belated, are a testament to the fact that integrity still holds value. But the initial sensationalism highlights a persistent flaw in our information ecosystem. As I've observed before, a robust, accessible healthcare system for all is a less sensational but far more crucial topic, one that I've often championed, including discussing initiatives like the Health Data Vault and Modicare With Health-care getting inaccessible or very expensive, millions of Indians die premature death and ABDM Arrives.
Dharmendra's journey back home is a joyous occasion, reminding us of the fragility of life, the strength of family bonds, and the pervasive influence of media – for better or worse. We must always strive for the "better."
Regards, Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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