Only the large-hearted Dharmendra could come up with such a warm gesture. Reacting to recent reports that either he or Southern superstar Rajnikanth would be chosen as chief guest at the 38th International Film Festival of India to be held in Goa in November, it seems that the actor has decided to relinquish his claim to the position.

Dharmendra has admitted that he had been approached by the festival authorities to be the chief guest but was not aware then that Rajnikant had been approached as well. Dharm paaji has gone so far as to say that Rajnikanth was like his younger brother and that it was only right that he should do the honours at the festival. He said that he was withdrawing his name with great delight. Dharmendra insisted that the Mumbai film industry and the South Indian film industry divide should not exist. He claimed that he belonged to the Hindi, the Bengali, Marathi and every other film industry in India. He said that Rajnikanth should represent all of them at the festival. The veteran claimed that he was never too keen on playing chief guest and that it was not his cup of tea. Claiming that it would make him feel claustrophobic, he said that he was happy that there was someone else who could do it.