"He is critical but improvement is still there," Dharmendra's wife Hema Malini told Subhash K Jha in a WhatsApp message a little while ago.
Earlier, Dharmendra and Hema Malini's daughter Esha Deol said her father is 'stable and recovering', and urged the media to stop circulating false news about his health as the 89-year-old star remains under observation at Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital, PTI reported.
'The media seems to be in over-drive and spreading false news. My father is stable and recovering. We request everyone to give our family privacy. Thank you for the prayers for papa's speedy recovery,' Esha wrote on Instagram.
Hema Malini, also criticised 'irresponsible' media coverage of the veteran actor's health.
'What is happening is unforgivable! How can responsible channels spread false news about a person who is responding to treatment and is recovering? This is being extremely disrespectful and irresponsible. Please give due respect to the family and its need for privacy,' Hema Malini posted on X.
Their statements came after several prominent figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and lyricist Javed Akhtar, posted tributes on X, even as the family denied reports of Dharmendra's death.
Hema Malini had, earlier on Monday night, urged people to remain calm and pray for his recovery.
'I thank everyone for their concern about Dharamji who is in hospital for observation. He is being continuously monitored and we are all with him. I request you all to pray for his welfare and speedy recovery,' she posted on X.
A representative for his son Sunny Deol denied speculation that the star had been put on a ventilator.
'Mr Dharmendra is stable and under observation. Further comments and updates will be shared as available. Kindly don't indulge in spreading false rumours regarding his health. Request everyone to pray for his speedy recovery and respect the family's right to privacy,' the representative said.
The entire Deol family, including Hema Malini, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, are currently at the hospital. Superstars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan visited the family, while actor Govinda was also seen at the hospital on Monday evening.
A close family member, who does not want to be named, earlier on Tuesday informed Subhash that the movie legend is stable and "certainly not in the alarm zone".
"When the media writes all kinds of speculative reports, even quoting sources from the hospital -- who are these hospital sources, we'd like to know -- we as a family get very agitated," the family member told Subhash.
"This is a very difficult time for all of us. We don't want to give minute-by-minute bulletins on his health. We just want the space to be able to look after him without having the cameras and microphones being thrust in our faces," says the family member.
Regarding the speculation on Dharamji being on a ventilator the family member says, "No, he is not on a ventilator. We wish the media would stop indulging in alarmist gimmicks to grab headlines. This is a very difficult time for us. Please leave us alone."
When Subhash spoke to Hemaji she was livid. "How can they do this? How can the media be so irresponsible? This is simply outrageous. Please show some respect for our family."
"Even Wikipedia has fallen for it. Who are these so-called sources spreading false news? We request you to find some other way of entertaining yourself."
"We are human beings first, celebrities afterwards. Please don't treat us as just targets for headlines."
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