Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, lovingly known as He-Man of Indian Cinema and Dharam Paaji, passed away earlier today at the age of 89. The iconic star had been battling age-related complications for over a month and breathed his last at his Mumbai residence. He was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital earlier this month due to respiratory issues.
The news of his demise has sent shockwaves across the nation, with fans, colleagues, and the film fraternity mourning the loss of one of Hindi cinema’s most cherished legends.
Dharmendra, born Dharmendra Singh Deol, made his debut in 1960 and went on to build an extraordinary career spanning more than six decades. Known for his remarkable versatility, he excelled in romantic, comedic, and action roles, earning immense admiration for his natural charm and commanding screen presence. With over 300 films, he remains one of the most prolific actors in Indian cinema.
He is best remembered for his portrayal of Veeru in the cult classic Sholay and for standout performances in Phool Aur Patthar, Seeta Aur Geeta, Chupke Chupke, Dharam Veer, and Pratigya. Many of his films continue to be regarded as timeless classics.
Dharmendra received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2012. He was last seen in the 2024 release Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya starring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, where he played Shahid’s grandfather. He also garnered widespread praise for his role in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani.
His final film will be Ikkis, featuring Agastya Nanda, in which Dharmendra also plays a grandfather—marking his last appearance on screen.
