Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra has died in Mumbai at the age of 89. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the celebrated star, noting that his death “signifies the close of a remarkable chapter in Indian cinema.”
Dharmendra—who often referred to himself modestly as “a simple man”—enjoyed an immense and long-lasting bond with millions of admirers. He is most fondly remembered for his iconic portrayal of Veeru, the charming small-time crook in the 1975 classic Sholay. Over the course of his career, he featured in more than 300 films, many of which became major box-office successes.
His on-screen songs frequently became chart-toppers, while his love story and later marriage to actress Hema Malini remained a favourite subject of public fascination.
Born on 8 December 1935 in Nasrali village of Punjab’s Ludhiana district, Dharmendra was originally named Dharam Singh Deol by his schoolteacher father. He rose from a middle-class Jatt-Sikh family to become one of Indian cinema’s most beloved stars.
