'Tikki samosa and a chawanni': When Dharmendra got nostalgic about Ludhiana’s Raikhy Cinema

While the country mourns the death of actor Dharmendra, there was a time when veteran actor got emotional while going past an old theatre in Ludhiana in July 2020.

Dharmendra, who was then active on Twitter — now X — had expressed his dismay over the dilapidated condition of Raikhy Cinema, which was once a landmark of Ludhiana.

Sharing a picture of Raikhy Cinema, Dharmendra had then tweeted, “Rikhy cinema, ludhiyana..... unginnat filmen dekhi hain yahaan....ye sannata ......dekh kar ..... dil udaas ho gaya mera ..... (I have watched innumerable films here, this silence. My heart is saddened watching this deserted place).”

Dharmendra also revealed that the last film he watched there was Dilip Kumar-starrer Deedar, adding, “Uss tadap ka apna hi nasha tha...”

A fan had responded to the post and talked about the snacks available at the theatre.

The fan named Rahi RK had also written, “Bhaji hum bhi Moga se aakar films dekhte the, Rekhy, Naulakha, Luxmi, Minerva, Deepak aur baad mein Preet Palace, Sangeet, Aarti aur kuchh aur..... Rekhy ke Tikki Toast (Vesan wali fried bread ) bahut tasty lagti thi us teens time mein.... please bataen agar Tikki Toast yaad hain.”

Getting nostalgic, Dharmendra had replied to him: “Budget mein..... ek chawanni... tikki samose ke liye hameesha rakhta tha (I always had 25 paise for tikki samosa saved in my budget).”

The theatre came up in 1933.

Dharmendra’s deep affiliation with Ludhiana comes from his roots. He was born and raised in villages of the district, and despite his stardom in Mumbai, he maintained lifelong ties with his hometown.

Deol was awarded Noor-e-Sahir in March 2020.  He was born in Nasrali village, Ludhiana district, in 1935. His father Kewal Krishan Singh Deol was a schoolteacher and his mother Satwant Kaur was a homemaker.

He spent his early years in Dangon and Sahnewal, both in Ludhiana district. His father’s job transfers meant the family moved between these villages.

Dharmendra’s fascination with films began while growing up in Ludhiana. He won the Filmfare New Talent Contest, which took him from Punjab to Mumbai to pursue acting.