Bollywood legend Dharmendra has passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89, bringing to an end one of the most remarkable careers in Indian cinema
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, saying his d3ath “marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.”
Dharmendra, who frequently referred to himself as “a simple man,” enjoyed unmatched admiration from millions of fans. Known worldwide as Veeru from the 1975 classic Sholay, he featured in more than 300 films, delivering decades of memorable performances. His songs ruled the airwaves, and his love story with actress Hema Malini often dominated headlines.
Hailed as the “original He-Man of Bollywood” and fondly called “Garam Dharam,” he was repeatedly listed among the world’s most handsome men. Admirers were famously devoted—some even slept with his photos under their pillows. Industry colleagues were equally captivated: Madhuri Dixit once called him “one of the most handsome people I have seen on screen,” Salman Khan described him as the “most beautiful looking man,” and Jaya Bachchan referred to him as “a Greek God.”
Dharmendra, however, often said he felt “embarrassed” by the attention to his looks, crediting it all to “nature, my parents and my genes.”
Born on 8 December 1935 in Nasrali village in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, he grew up in a middle-class Jatt-Sikh household and was originally named Dharam Singh Deol by his schoolteacher father.
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Wow, rip
He has gone to rest