'End of an era': PM Modi condoles death of actor Dharmendra

Legendary actor Dharmendra, fondly known as Bollywood’s He-Man, has passed away at the age of 89. He had been battling illness for a long time, and his health had been steadily deteriorating. His passing marks the end of an era in Indian cinema, an artist whose charm, warmth, and timeless performances in films like Sholay, Chupke Chupke, and Phool Aur Patthar shaped generations of movie lovers. The actor, who would have turned 90 on December 8, was not keeping well for a while and was in and out of a Mumbai hospital with the family finally deciding to continue his treatment at home earlier this month. A police statement said Dharmendra died Monday morning.
On the professional front, Dharmendra made his debut in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere and was last seen in the movie Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya in 2024. Dharmendra, who is widely considered one of the greatest, most handsome, and most commercially successful film stars in the history of Indian cinema, had a cinematic career spanning over six decades.He has worked in more than 300 films. Dharmendra holds the record for starring in the highest number of hit films in Hindi cinema. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2012. Dharmendra also served as a Member of the Parliament (Lok Sabha) fromthe  Bharatiya Janata Party. He represented Bikaner in Rajasthan from 2004 to 2009. One of his fan CA Anupam Sharma released some photos of Dharmendra.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the demise of veteran actor and Padma Bhushan awardee Dharmendra. In a social media post, Modi said the passing of Dharmendra marks the end of an era in Indian cinema. The Prime Minister added that he was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played.  Modi also said that the manner in which he played diverse roles struck a chord with countless people. He added that the veteran actor was equally admired for his simplicity, humility and warmth. Mr Modi also expressed his thoughts with the late actor’s family, friends and innumerable fans.
The actor was reportedly put on a ventilator, as he was suffering from breathing difficulties. As the news spread through the Bollywood circles, members of the fraternity paid their last respects to him. Aamir Khan and Abhishek Bachchan reached the crematorium in the Vile Parle area of Mumbai Bollywood multi-hyphenate Karan Johar remembered the late actor in his social media post. The late actor’s family also reached the crematorium.The actor used to live at his Khandala farmhouse with his first wife, Prakash Kaur. The actor had relocated to the town in light of the worsening pollution levels in the maximum city.
Dharmendra was one of Bollywood’s most enduring and beloved stars. He was born in 1935 in Punjab, and began his career in the early 1960s, after he was discovered through a talent hunt competition. In the late 1950s, Filmfare magazine, in collaboration with Bimal Roy Productions, organized a nationwide talent contest to find new faces for Hindi cinema. He entered the competition and was selected as the winner in 1958, chosen for his striking looks and natural charm. This victory opened the door to the film industry for him. While ‘Chupke Chupke’ displayed his impeccable comic timing, action-packed dramas like ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’ solidified his image as the quintessential Bollywood hero. Beyond his cinematic career, Dharmendra’s humility and charisma have made him a cherished figure both on and off screen.