It happened this morning, Monday, November 24th, in Mumbai. Veteran actor Dharmendra, our beloved He-Man, passed away at 89. He was admitted earlier this month for respiratory issues, and then the inevitable followed. A massive, gaping hole in the industry, or nothing. Six decades of work, over 300 films—the man was literally tireless.
You can’t talk about Bollywood without him. He was the only star who could smash intense action and then pull off quiet, brilliant comedy.
Veeru in Sholay: That’s Indian film folklore. That happened. And then every hero had to be funny, charming, and tough, all at once.
Versatility: From the ruggedness of Phool Aur Patthar to the pure comedy of Chupke Chupke (a personal favourite, let’s be real).
Awards: He got the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, the Padma Bhushan in 2012. Those too. Well-deserved.
FAMILY LEGACY: THE DEOL DYNASTY CONTINUES.
He leaves behind a whole family that is now the backbone of Hindi cinema.
Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Esha Deol, Ahana Deol. All known faces.
He is survived by Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini. One of the industry’s most unique, famous families.
AND HERE’S THE KICKER: ONE LAST APPEARANCE.
His final film, Ikkis, is set to release this Christmas, December 25th. He plays the father of a Param Vir Chakra hero (Arun Khetarpal, played by Agastya Nanda). He was working till the very end. The original hero.
The tributes are flooding in now. It’s an ongoing situation, the grief and the remembrance. The industry has lost its most authentic, charming, and rugged star.
END…..
