Bollywood’s ‘He-Man’ Dharmendra Dies at 89 — “The end of an era”

Veteran actor Dharmendra, one of Hindi cinema’s most enduring stars, passed away at the age of 89 in Mumbai, according to family sources and industry reports confirmed on Monday (November 24th). The news prompted an outpouring of grief from fans, colleagues and political leaders across the country as Bollywood marked the passing of a performer whose screen presence and charisma spanned generations.

Born Dharam Singh Deol on 8 December 1935 in Nasrali, Punjab, Dharmendra rose from modest beginnings to become a fixture of Indian films for more than six decades. He made his screen debut in 1960 and went on to build a vast body of work that ranged from romantic dramas to high-octane action pictures and broad comedies; by most counts his filmography runs into the hundreds, cementing his reputation as one of the industry’s most prolific stars.

If a single role best captures Dharmendra’s hold on popular imagination it is Veeru — the affable, roguish friend in Ramesh Sippy’s 1975 epic Sholay. The film became a cultural touchstone and Veeru turned into an archetype of loyalty, courage and screen magnetism that many viewers still associate with Dharmendra’s finest work. For decades that role — and the film’s enduring appeal — remained central to how audiences remembered him.

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Leaders from across India’s political spectrum paid tribute to the actor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Dharmendra’s passing as “the end of an era,” a sentiment echoed by filmmakers and actors who noted how the star’s charm and work ethic helped shape Hindi cinema’s golden moments. Tributes flooded social media and television as colleagues recalled a performer who combined physical bravura with a natural comic timing and an unmistakable romantic presence on screen.

Off screen, Dharmendra’s life was as widely followed as his films. He was the patriarch of the Deol acting family and father to Sunny and Bobby Deol, among others; his long partnership with Hema Malini — both on film and later in life — was a staple of Bollywood pages. He also had a stint in public life, serving a term in Parliament, and was formally recognised by the Indian state for his contributions to the arts, receiving major honours over the years.

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Colleagues and fans remembered not just the action scenes and romantic moments, but Dharmendra’s work ethic: tall, athletic and willing to perform his own stunts during his heyday, he remained active in film well into his later years — appearing alongside his sons, serving as a television judge, and keeping in touch with audiences through public appearances. Even as cinema evolved around him, he retained an old-fashioned accessibility that kept his fan base loyal across decades.

Industry events were cancelled or postponed in respect of the actor, while theatres and streaming platforms saw tributes and retrospectives of his most beloved movies. Fellow actors described the loss as deeply personal: many pointed to the combination of gifts — physicality, timing, and a plainspoken charm — that allowed him to slide effortlessly between genres, from heartbreak to slapstick to bravura action.

As India mourns, Dharmendra’s films continue to play as reminders of a career that helped define popular Hindi cinema. Whether remembered as the romantic lead of the 1960s, the action hero of the 1970s, or the warm patriarch of later decades, his legacy will remain visible in the scenes and songs that generations still quote and celebrate. In the chorus of condolences and memories, one theme recurs: an actor who never sought the limelight for its own sake but who dedicated his life to entertaining and connecting with the public — and in doing so, became an icon.