BOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR DHARMENDRA HAS DIED AGED 89.(PHOTO).

Dharmendra, legendary Bollywood star known as Indian cinema’s He-Man, dies at 89

NEW DELHI, INDIA - Dharmendra, one of Bollywood’s most beloved and enduring stars, died Monday at the age of 89, closing the final chapter on a six-decade career that helped shape modern Indian cinema. The actor, who would have turned 90 in early December, had been receiving intermittent hospital care in Mumbai in recent weeks. His death was confirmed by a senior police official familiar with the family’s doctor. Tributes quickly poured in, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said Dharmendra’s passing marked the end of an era and praised him as a performer whose warmth, range, and charisma resonated deeply across generations. Known widely as Bollywood’s “He-Man,” Dharmendra became a prototype of the idealized Hindi-film hero, embodying physical strength, moral uprightness, and patriotic resolve while also delivering memorable turns as a charming romantic lead.

His illustrious filmography includes some of the most celebrated Hindi-language movies ever made. His performance in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay—often considered India’s greatest film—cemented his status as a cultural icon and created one of Bollywood’s most unforgettable screen pairings with co-star Amitabh Bachchan. Dharmendra also showcased his comedic finesse in the hit Chupke Chupke and his fierce action presence in films like Mera Gaon Mera Desh, making him one of the defining faces of 1970s and 1980s cinema. His long and highly publicized on-screen partnership with actress Hema Malini later blossomed into marriage, though it stirred controversy due to his existing marriage to Prakash Kaur. Dharmendra and Malini went on to have two daughters, including actress Esha Deol, while his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol from his first marriage also became prominent actors. Over the decades, Dharmendra transitioned into mature, character-driven roles, often portraying fatherly figures well into the 1990s, 2000s, and beyond. Born in Punjab in 1935, he arrived in Mumbai as a young man chasing a film career and ultimately appeared in more than 300 movies. Honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2012 and briefly serving in Parliament during the mid-2000s, Dharmendra remained active in cinema until his final appearance in the 2025 war biopic Ikkis. He leaves behind a sprawling family of wives, children, and grandchildren who carry forward his cinematic legacy.