![\"Dhurandhar](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130293295,imgsize-69536,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/130293295.jpg\" "\\"Dhurandhar")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDhurandhar 2 actor Salim Siddiqui may be steadily carving a space for himself in the industry, but he attributes his journey to someone he never even met\u2014legendary star Dharmendra<\/a>.In a recent conversation on Divyank Kaushik\u2019s podcast, Siddiqui spoke about admiration, loss, missed chances, and how the veteran actor\u2019s blessings continue to guide him.<\/p>\n Looking back at his early days, Siddiqui shared how Dharmendra played a silent yet powerful role in shaping his journey.\u201cIf I have to give credit for my success to someone, there is one person whose blessings I feel have truly stayed with me. I never met him, but I\u2019ve been his biggest fan since childhood. I grew up watching his films. Through social media, I started interacting with him\u2014I would write to him, and he would reply with blessings, saying, \u2018Live long, you will be very successful.\u2019Those were his blessings. I truly loved him. Last year, we lost him… and that absence will always remain. If I had ever met him or written to him about my journey, I think he would have been very happy. I would have definitely given him credit for everything. Maybe it\u2019s because of his blessings that I\u2019m here today, speaking to all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Siddiqui admitted that Dharmendra\u2019s passing hit him deeply\u2014almost like a personal bereavement.\u201cWhen the news first came, it was shocking. Even during that period when he seemed to recover, we kept hoping\u2014\u2018he\u2019ll come back, he\u2019ll be fine.\u2019 You try to console yourself like that.I loved him a lot. In fact, I tried so many times to meet him. Whenever I came to Mumbai for shoots, I would tell people, \u2018Please try and arrange a meeting with him.\u2019 I always felt that one day, I would definitely meet him. But that meeting never happened. Maybe it wasn\u2019t meant to be. Still, wherever he is today, I believe he\u2019s watching us and feeling happy.\u201d<\/p>\n The actor also revealed how he even saw professional opportunities as a chance to fulfil a personal dream.\u201cI even gave many auditions for films featuring Sunny Deol\u2014like Chup, 1947 Lahore, and a few others. I thought if I get selected and reach him, I\u2019ll just make one request: \u2018Please introduce me to Dharam sir once.\u2019 That was the only wish.\u201d\u2018No one like him\u2019Remembering Dharmendra not just as a star but as a human being, Siddiqui said his warmth was unmatched.\u201cHe was incredibly warm and genuine. You know how some celebrities are surrounded by security and distance\u2014but he was never like that. He would call people close, make them sit next to him, hug them. That kind of warmth is very rare. There can never be another like him.Everyone I\u2019ve ever heard has only praised him. I\u2019ve never heard a single negative thing\u2014no attitude, no ego. He had a completely clean heart.\u201d <\/p>\n Watch<\/span><\/p>\n ‘Sunny Deol Was The Darkest Chapter Of My Life’\u2014 Suneel Darshan Speaks Out<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u2018I never met him… but I grew up on his films\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
\u2018That loss felt personal\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
\u2018I wanted just one introduction\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n