Bollywood Icon Dharmendra Passes Away; Thousands Attend Funeral

Dharmendra had been receiving treatment at a Mumbai hospital and had been admitted intermittently for several weeks. A police official, speaking anonymously after confirming with the actor’s doctor, confirmed his death.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on social media, “He was an iconic film personality, an extraordinary actor who brought magical emotion and strength to every role. His versatile acting was unique, and many embraced his performances in their hearts.”

Dharmendra was often called Bollywood’s “Hi-Man.” He enthralled audiences as a strong action hero while also winning hearts with his gentle and romantic portrayals. His performance in the 1975 film Sholay remains unforgettable, where he starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan, forming one of Bollywood’s most memorable on-screen pairs.

Beyond his acting career, Dharmendra’s personal life was often in the spotlight. After years of collaboration with actress Hema Malini, he married her in 1980. Previously, he was married to Prakash Kaur, with whom he had four children, including Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, who followed in his Bollywood footsteps.

In the later part of his career, Dharmendra was known for character roles and fatherly roles. His last film appearance was in 2025 in the war-based movie Ikkiis.

Born in 1935 in Punjab, India, as Dharmendra Kewal Kishan Deol, he made his Bollywood debut in 1960. Over six decades, he acted in over 300 films and was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government in 2012.

Dharmendra is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. His passing marks the end of an era in Indian cinema and leaves a lasting legacy.