Indian actor Dharmendra, whose magnetic screen presence and versatility made him one of Bollywood's most beloved stars, has died. He was 89 years old.
The actor passed away on Monday in Mumbai, where he had been hospitalized multiple times in recent weeks. He would have celebrated his 90th birthday on Dec. 8.
He arrived in Mumbai in the late 1950s and made his film debut in 1960. What followed was a career spanning more than 300 films across six decades. The 1966 film "Phool Aur Patthar" marked a turning point in his career, establishing him as both an action hero and solo lead.
Known affectionately as "Garam Dharam" in Bollywood, he combined rugged good looks with a masculine physique and impeccable comic timing. In the early 1970s, he became the first Indian actor to be voted among the world's most handsome men.
His performance in the 1975 blockbuster "Sholay"—a Bollywood take on the Spaghetti Western considered one of India's greatest films—remains iconic. In the movie, he played the lovable character Veeru alongside co-star Amitabh Bachchan, creating one of Bollywood's most memorable on-screen partnerships.
Dharmendra's on-screen chemistry with actress Hema Malini, whom he starred alongside in more than two dozen films, blossomed into real-life romance.
But he had married Prakash Kaur in 1954 at age 19, and they had four children, including sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, both of whom became successful actors. Because Indian law prohibited Hindus from having multiple spouses, Dharmendra converted to Islam in 1979 before marrying Malini in 1980, according to local media. Dharmendra and Malini had two daughters, including actress Esha Deol.
Dharmendra branched into film production in 1983 and briefly entered politics, serving as a Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker in parliament from 2004 to 2009.
In 2012, the Indian government honored him with the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third-highest civilian award.
He continued acting into 2025, most recently appearing in the war biopic "Ikkis”.
"I never thought I would come this far," he said in a 2021 interview with Indian news website Rediff.
Tributes Pour In
Filmmaker Karan Johar shared an emotional tribute on Instagram on Monday, describing Dharmendra as "the embodiment of a HERO in mainstream cinema.""Today there is a gaping hole in our industry… a space that can never be filled by anyone," Johar wrote. "There will always be the one and only DHARAMJI."
"He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played," Modi wrote. "The manner in which he played diverse roles struck a chord with countless people."
India's President Draupadi Murmu called his death "a great loss to Indian cinema," noting that "as a towering figure of Indian cinema, he leaves behind a legacy which will continue to inspire young generations of artists.”