In a day that dimmed the marquee lights of Indian cinema, veteran actor Dharmendra, fondly remembered as Bollywood’s indomitable ‘He-Man’, passed away this morning at his residence in Mumbai. He was 89.
The icon, whose rugged charm and magnetic screen presence captivated generations, succumbed after a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy etched in over 300 films and a trailblazing six-decade career.
Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol, born on December 8, 1935, in Lahore (now Pakistan), breathed his last just days shy of what would have been his 90th birthday. News of his demise, first confirmed by filmmaker Karan Johar, spread like wildfire across social media and newsrooms, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans, colleagues, and political leaders alike.
His family, including wife Hema Malini and children Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and Esha Deol, has requested privacy during this time of profound loss.
The actor’s final rites were performed at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai’s Vile Parle area, where a somber gathering of Bollywood’s elite paid their respects.
Sons Sunny and Bobby Deol led the last rites, their faces etched with quiet resolve amid the flickering flames. Hema Malini, the dream girl who became Dharmendra’s real-life partner in 1980 after a high-profile interfaith marriage, arrived veiled in white, supported by daughter Esha Deol.
Among the sea of black suits and tear-streaked faces were superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan, each pausing to honor the man who redefined heroism on the silver screen.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national mourning, tweeting, ‘Dharmendra ji’s departure leaves a void in Indian cinema that can never be filled. His versatile roles and magnetic persona entertained and inspired millions. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and innumerable admirers.’
The sentiment echoed across tributes from fellow actors, with Salman Khan calling him ‘the original action king’ and Hema Malini reminiscing about their shared screen magic in films like Sholay and Seeta Aur Geeta.
Dharmendra’s journey from a small-town aspirant to a celluloid colossus began in the early 1960s. Discovered through a talent contest, he made his debut with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere in 1960, but it was Phool Aur Patthar (1966) that catapulted him to stardom, earning him the moniker ‘Garam Dharam’. His baritone voice, chiseled physique, and effortless transition from romantic leads to rugged anti-heroes made him a household name.
Who can forget his iconic role as Veeru in Sholay (1975), the blockbuster that remains India’s cinematic gold standard, or his poignant father figure in Dillagi (1999) alongside sons Sunny and Bobby?
Beyond the glamour, Dharmendra was a man of quiet depth—a poet at heart, a farmer by passion (he owned vineyards in Lonavala), and a politician who served as a Lok Sabha MP from 2004 to 2009. His production house, Vijayta Films, launched the Deol dynasty, with Sunny’s Ghayal (1990) and Bobby’s Soldier (1998) carrying forward the family’s banner.
Yet, it was his unyielding spirit that endeared him most.
Even in his 80s, he dazzled in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani (2023), proving age was merely a number. Dharmendra’s life was a reel of triumphs and trials, a testament to resilience in an industry as unforgiving as it is enchanting. In his own words from a 2020 interview, ‘Cinema is my breath; it gave me everything.’