When you think of Dharmendra, you probably picture his charismatic smile, his effortless style, or his unforgettable role as Veeru in Sholay. But beyond the spotlight and the stardom, he was a man first — a devoted father, a family pillar and a Bollywood icon whose life touched millions.

On 24 November 2025, at the age of 89, Bollywood’s beloved “He-Man” Dharmendra passed away this morning at his residence in Mumbai. He quietly took his final bow, leaving behind a legacy that will live forever.

He is survived by his wives; Hema Malini and Prakash Kaur and his children, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeta, Ajeeta, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.

A police statement said Dharmendra died this morning and funeral arrangements are being made soon. An ambulance and several cars left Dharmendra’s Juhu residence and Hema Malini, Esha Deol were present at the convoy.

Later, Dharmendra's cremation took place at the Pawan Hans crematorium in the Ville Parle suburb of Mumbai.

Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and his father Salim Khan, Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Shabana Azmi were among the several celebrities who were present at the Juhu crematorium.

Meanwhile, Dharmendra's family, which had criticised the media for declaring Dharmendra dead earlier this month and requested for privacy, has not issued a statement yet.

Note that, several media houses had carried reports that Dharmendra had died on November 11 but the actor was discharged the next day and was treated at home since then.

Tributes are pouring in from everywhere

The news of Dharmendra’s death has left the film industry mourning. The news of his passing comes just weeks before his 90th birthday, which he was set to celebrate on December 8. His demise is a huge loss to Indian cinema and politics.

As news broke, tributes are pouring in from fans, politicians, fellow actors and the film fraternity across the country. With heart broken, they remember Dharmendra not just as a legendary actor, but also as an inspiration to many.

Prime Minister Modi described the actor’s passing as “the end of an era in Indian cinema” and expressed his condolences to Dharmendra’s family, friends, and fans.

“The passing of Dharmendra Ji marks the end of an era in Indian cinema. He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played."

"The manner in which he portrayed diverse roles struck a chord with countless people,” Modi wrote, adding that the actor will always be admired for his simplicity, humility, and warmth.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condoled the passing away of Bollywood actor Dharmendra, saying the Indian film industry has lost a precious star who ruled over the hearts of cinema lovers for decades.

"The Indian film world has lost a precious star today. The renowned actor Dharmendra is no longer with us. Honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2012, Dharmendra reigned over the hearts of cinema lovers for decades and left a deep impression with his unparalleled acting and simple life," Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.

He said his passing away marks the end of an era.

"In this hour of grief, I extend my deepest condolences to his family and millions of fans. May God grant peace to his soul," the Congress president said.

Rajnath Singh also shared the tragic news, “Deeply saddened by the demise of veteran actor and former MP Shri Dharmendra ji. A versatile actor who brought life to many memorable characters with his unmatched charm and sincerity. His remarkable contribution to Indian cinema will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers.”

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressed sorrow over the actor’s demise, saying she was “deeply saddened” by the passing of the “legendary actor-hero.” She added that his immense contribution to Indian cinema would continue to inspire generations.

Javed Akhtar shared the tragic news on X as he shared, “With Dharm Ji an era of Indian film industry has come to its end. He was a perfect combination of masculinity and gentleness. Dignity and humility. Charm and power. any one who looks at his body of work will know that he was an actor for all the seasons. He was a kind and a polite person with a heart of gold. My deepest condolences to Deol family. We who have been fortunate enough to work with him will always miss him.”

Filmmaker Karan Johar took to his Instagram account to offer his condolences. He directed Dharmendra’s last film, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani.

Remembering the actor’s warmth, love, and positivity, Karan said the loss leaves a void in Bollywood that no one can ever fill.

“Today, there is a gaping hole in our industry … a space that can never be filled by anyone. There will always be the one and only Dharamji. We love you, kind sir. We will miss you so much. The heavens are blessed today. It will always be my blessing to have worked with you, and my heart says -with respect, reverence, and love,” Karan wrote.

Many more celebrities including Kajol, Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor mourned the actor’s death on social media with Johar calling Dharmendra’s death as the end of an era.

His health struggles

Dharmendra had been in and out of south Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital for several days earlier this month. He was later discharged and was continuing his recovery at home.

The actor had previously been hospitalized for check-ups and ailments like muscle strain and back pain—nothing out of the ordinary for someone with such a large body of work and long years in the industry.

A few months ago, he underwent a corneal transplant (also called an eye graft) after his left eye’s cornea was damaged and had turned cloudy. What does a corneal transplant really mean? Doctors replace the damaged cornea with healthy donor tissue to restore vision—or at least stop pain and blurriness.

Spotted with a bandage, Dharam-ji was all smiles when interacting with the paparazzi, saying in his trademark style, “Abhi bhi bohut damm hai… Mere aankh mein graft hua hai.” (“I still have a lot of strength… I had a graft in my eye.”)

On the night of 31 October 2025, Dharmendra was rushed to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after suddenly experiencing serious breathing difficulties. The news immediately sparked concern among fans, especially given his age and recent health patches.

Inside the hospital, doctors placed him under close observation in the ICU for a while, checking all vital signs and ensuring his lungs and breathing were stable. On 12 November 2025 the family confirmed that Dharmendra had been discharged and would continue his recovery at home.

Roots, humility & family first

For all his larger-than-life reel persona, off-screen Dharmendra remained refreshingly real. He was born in the Sahnewal village of Ludhiana district, Punjab in 1935.

The late actor's father Kewal Krishan was a government school teacher, while his mother Satwant Kaur was a homemaker. He spent his early life in Sahnewal village and studied at Government Senior Secondary School at Lalton Kalan, Ludhiana.

In the early 1950s, Dharmendra left for Mumbai by train from Sahnewal. But he continued to make many surprise visits to Dangon, Sahnewal and Lalton to meet his old friends and acquaintances

Dharmendra never let fame erase his roots. He worked his way up from modest beginnings, always remembering where he came from. That humility became a core value for his family and something his children and grandchildren saw and respected.

His nephew Buta Singh Deol said, "Dharmendra uncle was my father Manjit Singh’s cousin. The last time he came to the village was in 2019 when his son Sunny Deol fought the parliamentary elections from Gurdaspur. I also went to Gurdaspur to campaign for him."

"Before that, he came to the village in 2015-16 when he transferred 19 kanal and three marla land to my father Manjit Singh and my uncle Shingara Singh (now deceased). As he had left decades ago to Mumbai, our family has been taking care of his land and we have been tilling it. He never forgot his roots and us," he said.

In Dharmendra's ancestral home in Dangon now live Singh, his wife Gurpreet Kaur, father Manjit Singh and 103-year-old grandmother Pritam Kaur, who is the actor's aunt (wife of his father's brother late Jagir Singh).

"I along with my grandfather and then father used to go to Mumbai every year to show Dharmendra the land assessment papers so that he has no doubt in his mind that his ancestral land has been kept intact. A few years ago, he came and transferred the land in the name of my father and uncle as we have taken care of it," recalls Singh.

Bollywood Journey

Dharmendra Deol won a national talent contest organised by a film magazine and made his debut in Hindi films in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere.

The film went unnoticed and it was only next year that he delivered his first success, Shola Aur Shabnam. He followed it up with Mohan Kumar’s Anpadh (1962), and Bimal Roy’s Bandini (1963), which won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

His breakthrough came with the 1966 film Phool Aur Patthar, in which he starred opposite Meena Kumari. The movie was a huge success, and it catapulted Dharmendra to stardom.

Throughout the years, Dharmendra’s filmography grew to include iconic blockbusters such as Sholay, Raja Jani, Seeta Aur Geeta, Kahani Kismat Ki, Yaadon Ki Baraat, Charas, Azaad and Dillagi, showcasing his range and versatility as an actor.

In recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, Dharmendra received the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian award, in 2012.

Towards the later part of his career, he was seen in supporting roles in films like Life in a… Metro, Johnny Gaddar, Apne, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Dharmendra was last seen in the 2024 film Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, starring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.

Dharmendra’s final on-screen appearance will be in Ikkis, scheduled for release on December 25. The biographical war drama also stars Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, and Jaideep Ahlawat in lead roles, and is directed by Sriram Raghavan. It is slated to release in December this year.

With a career spanning over six decades, Dharmendra was one of the most beloved actors in Indian cinema. He starred in over 300 films over the years, holding the record for starring in the highest number of hit films in Hindi cinema.

Political journey

Dharmendra had a short-lived political career as well. The actor contested from Bikaner in Rajasthan during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and served the constituency till 2009.

He did not return to politics after this even though his wife Hema continues to be a serving Member of Parliament and his son Sunny has also been an active politician in the past.

Personal life

Dhamarried was married Prakash Kaur in 1954 at the age of 19. Sixteen years later, he met and fell in love with actor Hema Malini, whom also he married.

Tum Haseen Mai Jawan was Hema Malini’s debut film, and her pairing with Dharmendra proved to be a hit.

They went on to work together in a number of films. It was during the 1970s that Dharmendra fell in love with film actor Hema Malini, even though he live with his first wife Prakash Kaur and was a father to four children – sons Sunny and Bobby, and daughters Ajeeta and Vijayta at the time.

Dharmendra and Hema’s love story was nothing less than a movie as the two were ready to go against the world to be with each other.

Despite opposition from Hema’s family and amid conversations of her alliance with Jeetendra, Hema and Dharmendra got married. They later welcomed two daughters – Esha and Ahana.

While Dharmendra was also married to Hema, he continued to live with his first wife Prakash and his extended family, while Hema lived close by. Over the years, it has been speculated that there was animosity within the family but they have largely tried to maintain a united front.

Farewell

Dharmendra wasn’t just an actor, he was an emotion, a timeless presence who brought charm, warmth, and strength to every frame. From his effortless humor to his unshakable grace, he taught generations what it truly means to live and love with passion.

His legacy will forever echo through the stories he told and the hearts he touched.