Bollywood legend Dharmendra has passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89.
In the wake of his death, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the actor, stating that his departure “marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.”
Dharmendra, who often referred to himself as “a simple man,” garnered immense love and loyalty from his millions of fans.
He is best remembered for his role as Veeru, the charming petty criminal in the 1975 hit film Sholay.
Throughout his career, he appeared in over 300 films, many of which were successful, captivating audiences for decades.
His songs frequently topped the charts, and his romance and marriage to Hema Malini attracted significant media attention.
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Known as the “original He-Man of Bollywood” and “Garam (hot) Dharam,” he was often featured on global lists of the “most handsome men” during his prime, with female fans reportedly keeping his photographs under their pillows.
Even fellow Bollywood stars were captivated by his charm; actress Madhuri Dixit called him “one of the most handsome people I have seen on screen,” while superstar Salman Khan referred to him as the “most beautiful looking man,” and actress Jaya Bachchan described him as “a Greek God.”
Dharmendra often expressed his embarrassment over discussions about his looks, attributing them to “nature, my parents, and my genes.”
Born on December 8, 1935, in Nasrali Village in Punjab’s Ludhiana district to a middle-class Jatt-Sikh family, he was given the name Dharam Singh Deol by his schoolteacher father.
In a 2018 interview with journalists, he shared that his father wanted him to pursue academics, but he fell in love with cinema at an early age and aspired to be a hero.
“I watched my first film in ninth grade and was captivated. I wondered, where is this paradise where all these beautiful people reside? I felt I had to find my way there; I felt a connection to them,” he stated.
However, when he shared his dreams with his family, they were shocked.
“My mother said you are our eldest child; you have family responsibilities. I felt very sad. When we heard about the All India Talent Contest organized by Filmfare magazine, she said alright, send in your application to humor me. We never thought I would be selected.”
To their surprise, he won the contest and moved to Bombay (now Mumbai), leading to a remarkable career.
For three decades, starting with his debut in Dil Bhi Tera, Hum Bhi Tere (The heart is yours and so am I) in 1960, he dominated Bollywood, delivering multiple hits each year.
Dharmendra first gained recognition with Bimal Roy’s 1963 film Bandini, where he received acclaim for his nuanced portrayal of a prison doctor who falls in love with a convict.
He quickly became a romantic hero, successfully pairing with leading actresses like Nutan, Meena Kumari, Mala Sinha, and Saira Banu.
In 1966, he took on his first action role in Phool Aur Patthar (Flower and Rock), but it was the 1971 blockbuster Mera Gaon Mera Desh (My Village, My Country) that solidified his status as an action star.
