India’s prominent magazine Filmfare has claimed that veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra has died. A statement on the magazine’s verified Facebook page said that the actor, popularly known as the ‘He-Man’ of Bollywood, is no more. He reportedly passed away on Monday (24 November) at the age of 89.
His death marks the end of a golden chapter spanning six decades in Indian cinema.
Dharmendra was recently admitted to hospital due to ill health, which at the time sparked rumours about his death. Eventually, he recovered and returned home, putting those rumours to rest.
During Bollywood’s golden era—when romance defined cinematic poetry and heroes symbolised charm and elegance—emerged an actor who embodied the gentle lover, the fearless warrior, and the perfect gentleman. That actor was Dharmendra. Through his performance, personality, and humanity, he earned the title of ‘Handsome Hero’ in the history of Indian cinema.
Dharmendra Singh Deol was born on 8 December 1935 in Ludhiana, Punjab. His deep passion for films from childhood eventually led him to Mumbai. He made his Bollywood debut in 1960 with the film ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’. His true success began in the mid-1960s when he delivered a series of hit films that captivated audiences.
Dharmendra married twice. With celebrated actress Hema Malini, he had two daughters—Esha and Ahana Deol. With his first wife, Prakash Kaur, he had two sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and two daughters, Vijeta Deol and Ajeeta Deol.
He last appeared in Karan Johar’s ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’, where he once again won the hearts of viewers. His romantic scene with Shabana Azmi created a significant buzz in Bollywood.
Meanwhile, his upcoming film ‘Ikkis’, directed by Sriram Raghavan, is awaiting release.
SS