Loading dispatches...
← Return to Newsroomgeneral
Hema Malini says Dharmendras last wish was to see family united: Sunny, Bobby are sweet
Breaking
'No credibility': India slams US religious freedom body over call for RSS sanctions
NewsWorldKidnapped in Mali, Indian-origin diamond trader released after family pays Rs 44 crore ransom The kidnappers had first demanded around Rs 100 crore for Ramani's release, but his family, who live in the US. 2 min readJul 28, 2026 05:28 AM IST First published on: Jul 28, 2026 at 05:22 AM IST Dhiru Ramani originally belonged to the Dhar village in Gujarat's Amreli district. (Photo: X) A 75-year-old India-origin diamond merchant who was kidnapped in Mali has been released after his family paid a ransom of 4 million euros, worth close to Rs 44 crore, according to PTI. Dhiru Ramani was seized in April while in Mali, where he had recently bought a gold mine and had been living for some time. The kidnappers had first demanded around Rs 100 crore for Ramani’s release, but his family, who live in the US, negotiated the figure down before securing his freedom. The ransom of 4 million euros was paid last week to win his release in the West African country, according to the report.Where is Ramani now? Ramani, who comes from Gujarat’s Amreli district and is linked to the diamond trade in Surat, is reported to still be in Mali, where local authorities are questioning him following his release. “He has been released, but he is still in Mali. The local police are questioning him about his release and the circumstances surrounding it,” a source told PTI. Ramani’s US-based family managed the negotiations on their own, with no Indian government agency involved in the process, the source added.Story continues below this ad Who is Dhiru Ramani? Ramani hails from Dhar village in Amreli district and has been connected to the diamond business since around 1980. He later moved to the United States, where his family runs an international diamond trading business. Had a warning been issued earlier? Around the time of the alleged kidnapping in April, the Indian Embassy in Bamako, Mali’s capital, had issued a general security advisory urging Indian nationals in the country to stay cautious, according to PTI. The advisory, dated 25 April, pointed to recent security developments and reported attacks in Kati and other parts of Mali, and urged Indian nationals to remain vigilant, stay indoors, and follow instructions from Malian authorities. The advisory did not refer to any specific incident or individual. With inputs from PTI The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, i
New DelhiJul 7, 2026 02:28 PM IST Hema Malini opened up about Dharmendra's last wish. (Photo: Hema Malini/X, Varinder Chawla)Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89 and upon his passing, a wave of grief swallowed his family, friends and the countless fans he had all over the world. In a new interview, his wife, actor-politician Hema Malini opened up about the last message of the late actor wherein he told her to keep the family united. In the chat, Hema also spoke about Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, Dharmendra’s sons from his first marriage with Prakash Kaur, and said that they are all united, contrary to what others might believe. ‘Dharmendra said be with the kids’ Talking to Hindi Rush, Hema shared, “Dharam ji would always say, be with the kids as much as possible. Spend time with the children, with the family. He always said, be united with the family, that is very important in today’s times, which doesn’t really happen now. These days, kids go their separate ways.” Hema and Dharmendra got married in 1980 and had two daughters – Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. At the time, Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur and had four children with her – sons Sunny and Bobby, and daughters Ajeeta and Vijayta. Dharmendra continued to live with Prakash until the end, while Hema lived in a home right across the street. Dharmendra’s last message for the family When Hema was asked about the “last message” from Dharmendra, she said, “This is exactly what he said, ‘Be with the family. Be together with all of them. Work can keep happening but family should be given utmost importance’.” Hema was also asked about Sunny and Bobby and she described them as “wonderful boys.” “They are very sweet. Sunny is very nice. Bobby is very good. We are all always together. We don’t do any publicity but internally we are all good. We are all united. We are a very happy family,” she said. ‘Very loving father, grandfather’ In the same chat, Hema was asked to talk about certain aspects of Dharmendra’s life that his fans might not know about. “What do I say about such a great human being? Words fall short,” she said and added, “He was always rooted.”Story continues below this ad “If he was in the house and heard some commotion outside, he would always want to know what’s happening. If someone came to take a picture with him, he would say, ‘Call them inside’, no matter who it was. He would meet everyone, feed them all. He was very fond of people. He was so good with poetry and he liked sharing that with his fans,’ she said. “I worked with him for so many years. He was always a generous and loving person,” she said and added, “He taught everyone that no matter the difficulty in your life, you have to face it and solve it.” She described him as a “very loving father” and a “very loving naanu (grandfather).” “I can’t tell how much the kids are missing him,” she said. About Dharmendra’s death In the days after Dharmendra’s death, a memorial was held in Mumbai by the Deol family but Hema and her daughters did not attend it. On the same day, Hema arranged a prayer meet at her home. A few days after that, a prayer meet was held in the memory of the veteran star in Delhi, which was attended by political dignitaries. In April 2026, Bobby received the Lifetime Achievement Award at SCREEN Awards on behalf of his late father. Bobby was in tears as he collected the honour and said, “I see my father’s love in all your eyes. My father touched everyone’s hearts through his work and even through his Instagram reels, which had become his new hobby.” He added, “He always wanted people to stay happy and believed that God has given all of us so much in life. He used to say that we all have a special gift within us, and if we believe in it, we can achieve anything.”
Discussion (0)