NEW DELHI: Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema’s most beloved and enduring stars whose performances defined Bollywood across the 1970s and 1980s, died on Monday at the age of 89.
A senior police official confirmed the death after speaking with the actor’s doctor. Dharmendra, who would have turned 90 on Dec. 8, had spent several weeks in and out of a Mumbai hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, saying the actor’s death marked “the end of an era” in Indian cinema, reports AFP.
Often known as Bollywood’s “He-Man,” Dharmendra blended action-hero charisma with the ease of a romantic lead, creating one of the most versatile screen identities in the history of Hindi cinema. His portrayal of Veeru in the 1975 classic Sholay — widely regarded as one of India’s greatest films — cemented his legendary status. His work in films such as Chupke Chupke (1975) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971) made him a household name.
His partnership with Amitabh Bachchan in Sholay became one of Bollywood’s most iconic on-screen duos. Equally celebrated was his chemistry with actress Hema Malini, whom he later married. The pair acted together in over two dozen films, becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable romantic collaborations.
Dharmendra’s personal life, however, was marked by controversy. He married Hema Malini in 1980 while still married to his first wife, Prakash Kaur, with whom he had four children, including actors Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. Reports said he briefly converted to Islam before marrying Malini, as Indian law bars Hindus from marrying again without divorce.
Dharmendra and Malini had two daughters, including actress Esha Deol, while his nephew Abhay Deol also entered the film industry.
Over a six-decade career beginning with his 1960 debut, Dharmendra appeared in more than 300 films. In his later years, he took on more character-driven roles, often portraying father figures through the 1990s and 2000s. He continued acting until 2025, with his final appearance in the war biopic Ikkis.
Born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol in Punjab in 1935, he grew up in a farming family before moving to Mumbai in the late 1950s to pursue cinema. In 2012, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour.
Dharmendra also briefly entered politics, serving as a Bharatiya Janata Party member of parliament from 2004 to 2009.
He is survived by his wives, children, and grandchildren.
