Mumbai, November 24, 2025 - Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, widely known as the "He-Man of Indian Cinema," has passed away at the age of 89. The actor breathed his last at his Mumbai residence on Monday.
Dharmendra, whose real name was Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol, was born on December 8, 1935, in Nasrali, a village in the Ludhiana district of Punjab. He would have turned 90 next month. The actor was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital in late October after complaining of breathlessness and was discharged about two weeks ago.
Dharmendra made his Bollywood debut in 1960 with "Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere". In a career spanning over six decades, he acted in more than 300 films, becoming one of the most successful and beloved stars in Indian cinema. He was particularly noted for his powerful dialogue delivery and ability to portray a wide range of characters. Some of his most memorable films include "Phool Aur Patthar" and "Sholay," where he played the iconic character Veeru. His roles in action movies earned him nicknames such as "Action King" and "He-Man".
Beyond acting, Dharmendra also had a stint in politics. He served as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from the Bharatiya Janata Party, representing Bikaner in Rajasthan from 2004 to 2009.
Dharmendra's personal life also garnered public attention. He first married Prakash Kaur in 1954, with whom he had two sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, both successful Bollywood actors, and two daughters, Vijeta and Ajeeta. Later, he married actress Hema Malini, with whom he has two daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol, who are also actresses.
In 2012, Dharmendra was honored with the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian awards.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed his condolences, remembering Dharmendra as not just a good actor but also a good and simple human being with a personal connection to him. Gadkari noted Dharmendra's commitment to the country and farmers, acknowledging the film industry's significant loss. Karan Johar also confirmed the news, calling it "an end of an era".
Dharmendra was last seen in the movie "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" in 2024. He is set to appear in the upcoming film "Ikkis," directed by Sriram Raghavan.
Dharmendra is survived by his wives, Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini, his sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, and his daughters, Vijeta, Ajeeta, Esha Deol, and Ahana Deol.
