Veteran Bollywood legend Dharmendra, one of Hindi cinema’s most charismatic and commercially successful stars, has passed away at the age of 89, sources close to IANS confirmed today. The actor, whose monumental career spanned over six decades and more than 300 films, had been under intermittent medical care in recent weeks, marking the end of a golden era for Indian cinema.
The actor, who would have turned 90 on December 8, had been battling health issues. He had been placed under strict medical observation by top doctors since October 31 and was on life support as recently as November 10, according to IANS sources.
Dharmendra was recently discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on November 12. At that time, Dr. Rajiv Sharma had assured IANS that the actor was “fully satisfied” with his care and was stable enough to return home, urging the public to avoid circulating false health updates. However, the actor’s condition ultimately deteriorated.
A Monumental Cinematic Legacy
Dharmendra’s passing leaves behind a monumental legacy defined by versatility and enduring stardom. Widely celebrated as one of the most handsome stars of Hindi cinema, he holds the distinction of appearing in the highest number of hit films by a male star.
- Debut and Rise to Fame: He made his screen debut in 1960 with ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’. He rose to superstardom in the mid-1960s with acclaimed films like ‘Ayee Milan Ki Bela’, ‘Phool Aur Patthar’, and ‘Aaye Din Bahar Ke’.
- Golden Era Classics: His peak era delivered countless classics, including ‘Ankhen’, ‘Shikar’, ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’, ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’, ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, ‘Jugnu’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Pratiggya’, ‘Dharam Veer’, the iconic ‘Sholay’, ‘The Burning Train’, and ‘Charas’.
- Later Career: Dharmendra transitioned seamlessly into acclaimed mature roles in later films, such as ‘Life in a… Metro’, ‘Johnny Gaddaar’, ‘Apne’, ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, and his most recent release, ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’ (2024).
- Upcoming Project: He was scheduled to appear next in Sriram Raghavan’s war drama ‘Ikkis’, which stars Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia and is based on the life of Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal.
The actor was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2012 for his unmatched contribution to Indian cinema. His death has prompted an outpouring of grief from millions of fans, colleagues, and admirers, who mourn the loss of one of Bollywood’s genuine legends.
Key Highlights:
- Veteran Bollywood star Dharmendra passed away at the age of 89, just weeks before his 90th birthday, after an extended period of intermittent medical care, including being on life support earlier in November.
- His monumental cinematic legacy spans over six decades and more than 300 films, and he holds the record for appearing in the highest number of hit films in Hindi cinema.
- His most iconic works include classics like ‘Sholay’, ‘Phool Aur Patthar’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, and recent hits like ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, with his last film being ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’ (2024).
- Dharmendra, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2012, leaves behind a legacy defined by versatility and enduring stardom, with his passing marking the end of an era.