Dharmendra, the legendary Bollywood actor and "He-Man" of Indian cinema, passes away at the age of 89

Bollywood actor and Indian lawmaker Dharmendra reacts during a promotional press conference of his latest film “Apne” in Calcutta, India, Monday, June 25, 2007.

NEW DELHI —One of the most well-known actors in Indian cinema, Dharmendra passed away on Monday. His varied roles made him a key figure in Bollywood movies from the 1970s and 1980s. He was eighty-nine.

Over the past few weeks, the actor—who would have turned 90 on December 8—had been in and out of a hospital in Mumbai, the nation's financial center.

On the condition of anonymity, a senior police official who had spoken with Dharmendra's physician verified the death. The actor's passing signifies the end of an era in Indian cinema, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed his sympathies.

He was a legendary movie star and a superb actor who gave each part he portrayed elegance and nuance. Many people were moved by the way he portrayed a variety of characters, Modi stated on social media site X.

Dharmendra, who is frequently referred to as Bollywood's "He-Man," is one of India's most famous performers because he blended the compassion of a romantic lead with the traditional bravery of an action star. His lovely performances in romantic hits also made him popular with the general public, even if the majority of his reputation came from roles in which he epitomized the stereotype of a larger-than-life hero—upright, patriotic, and fearless.

Dharmendra gained lasting fame for his role in "Sholay" (1975), a Bollywood adaptation of the Spaghetti Western and one of India's best movies. He became one of the most well-known movie stars of that era thanks to his parts in several Hindi-language classics, such as the romantic comedy "Chupke Chupke" (1975) and the action drama "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" (1971).

His reputation as a celebrity was solidified by his performance in the Bollywood classic "Sholay," where he co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan as an amiable figure. Additionally, the pair's on-screen collaboration became one of Bollywood's most recognizable collaborations.

His on-screen chemistry with actress Hema Malini—whom he later married—became one of Bollywood's most well-known partnerships, as the two starred in over two dozen movies together. However, controversy was the foundation of their partnership. Before making his movie debut, Dharmendra wed Prakash Kaur. Together, they had four children, two of whom would go on to become actors: Sunny and Bobby Deol.

He reportedly never got a divorce from Kaur and kept living with her even after getting married to Malini in 1980. He briefly converted to Islam before marrying Malini, according to local media accounts, because Indian law forbids Hindus from being married twice, particularly if their spouse is still living.

Bollywood star Esha Deol is one of Dharmendra and Malini's two daughters. Abhay Deol, his nephew, entered the field as well.

In the 1990s and 2000s, during a career that lasted until 2025, Dharmendra shifted to more character-driven roles, typically playing father figures. His most recent appearance was in the battle movie "Ikkis."

In an interview with the Indian news website Rediff in 2021, he stated, "I never thought I would come this far."

Born in 1935 in the northern Indian state of Punjab, Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol was raised in a farming family before relocating to Mumbai in the late 1950s and made his Bollywood debut in 1960. He appeared in almost 300 films during the course of a 60-year career.

In appreciation of his contributions to Indian cinema, Dharmendra received the Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian award, in 2012. He also made a brief foray into politics, serving as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Parliament from 2004 until 2009.

Dharmendra's spouses, kids, and grandkids survive him.