Hooda keeps his word, performs last rites of Sarabjit’s sister

Keeping his promise made to Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit Singh, years ago, actor Randeep Hooda performed her last rites in Amritsar on Sunday. Kaur died of a heart attack in Bhikhiwind, near Amritsar, Punjab, on Sunday. She was 67.

Hooda had formed a bond with Kaur while working on the 2016 film Sarbjit, in which the actor played the title role. Kaur’s role was played by Aishwarya Rai. The biographical drama revolved around Kaur’s fight to free Sarabjit after he was sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for alleged terrorism and spying. He died in prison in 2013, following an attack by other inmates.

“Ghar zaroor aana [Be sure to visit],’ was the last thing she said. I went, only she had left,” actor Randeep Hooda said in an emotional Instagram post on Monday.

Speaking in 2016, Kaur had said she saw glimpses of her brother in Hooda. At an event marking three years of her brother’s death, Dalbir had said, “I would like to tell Randeep that I have truly seen Sarabjit in him. I would like to take a promise from him that when I die, he should definitely give me ‘kandha’ (shoulder). My soul will get peace.”

In keeping with that promise, Hooda left Mumbai as soon as he received news of her death. The actor wrote,

“Not in the wildest dream could one imagine that Dalbir Kaur ji would leave us so soon. A fighter, childlike, sharp and devoted to all that she touched. She fought a system, a country, its people and her own to try save her beloved brother Sarbjit. I was so fortunate to have her love and blessings... Ironically the last time we met was when I was shooting in the fields of Punjab where we had created an Indo-Pak border. It was a chilly and foggy late November night but she didn’t care about all that. She was happy we were on the same side of the border. ‘Khush raho [Stay happy]’… she often ended most conversations with. I do feel truly blessed indeed. There just wasn’t enough time Dalbir ji. I love her, I miss her and I shall always cherish her love and blessings.”