New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) Bollywood star Sunny Deol on Monday said his father Dharmendra and late actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar shared a beautiful bond.

Deol was in the national capital to promote his upcoming film "Jaat".

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During a press conference, the 67-year-old actor spoke about the friendship between Dharmendra (89) and Kumar, who passed away on April 4 at the age of 87.

Calling the late actor a father figure, Deol said as a child he would see Kumar and his father hanging out together.

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"He (Manoj Kumar) was always like a father figure to me. My father had a connection with him," Deol said.

"Dad was telling me that back then, when they were struggling, there was no money... Whenever Manoj ji would have some, he would get clothes and tell my father, 'Dharam, you also take some'. Such a beautiful bond they had from that time onwards," Deol said.

The actor also said that his father, who recently underwent an eye surgery, is doing fine.

"He is fine ('ekdum theek hai'). It was a small cataract operation, nothing like that... He is fine," he said.

Deol also called Dharmendra his hero from whom he has learnt a lot

"Whatever I am, I have learnt from my father. He has always been a hero for me. I don't think there is any better actor out there who has done such a variety of characters.”

Deol added that he has seen his father go through a down phase, something that he also went through in his career.

One should not bother about it and move ahead instead, he said.

"Jaat" directed by Gopichand Malineni is slated to hit the big screen on April 10.

Produced by People Media Factory and Mythri Movie Makers, the film also stars Randeep Hooda.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)