Bollywood legendary actor Dharmendra passes away aged 89

Bollywood legendary actor Dharmendra passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 89. He was fighting age-related issues for over a month and breathed his last at his residence in Mumbai.

The veteran actor, born as Dharmendra Singh Deol, affectionately known as Bollywood’s He-Man and Dharam Paaji, leaves behind an unmatched legacy of over six decades.

He was admitted to a hospital earlier this month due to respiratory complications, while Indian media outlets had false reported about his passing.

He is survived by his wife, actress Hema Malini, his first wife Prakash Kaur, and his children, including actors Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.

Dharmendra made his debut in 1960 and quickly became a superstar. His career boasts over 300 films and he was known for his versatility, mastering roles from the romantic hero to the tough action star.

Some of his most memorable performances include the iconic role of Veeru in the cult classic ‘Sholay’, as well as memorable performances in ‘Phool Aur Patthar’, ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Dharam Veer’, and ‘Pratigya’. His natural charm and powerful screen presence earned him millions of fans worldwide.

He was a recipient of the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, which was an honour to his massive contribution to the industry. In 2012, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian award.

He was last seen in the 2024 movie, ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’ starring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. He also starred in the blockbuster romantic-comedy ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani’, for which he also received praise from fans and critics alike for his performance.