By Dipak Kurmi
The curtains have descended on an era that shaped the emotional and cultural vocabulary of Indian cinema. Dharmendra, lovingly known as Dharamji, passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89 in Mumbai, leaving behind an unmatched legacy that spans more than sixty-five years. His death, which came just two weeks before his 90th birthday, stirred a profound stillness across the nation. Bollywood did not merely lose an actor; it lost one of its most enduring pillars, a figure whose warmth, masculinity, and emotional honesty shaped generations of storytelling and audiences alike. To millions, Dharmendra was not a star fabricated by fame but an emotion that felt familiar, humane, and deeply rooted in the essence of Indian cinema.
Born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol on December 8, 1935, in Nasrali, a modest village in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, he grew up in Sahnewal amid the unhurried rhythms of rural life. His father, Kewal Krishan, a headmaster at Government Senior Secondary School in Lalton Kalan, instilled in him a sense of simplicity and discipline. Dharmendra completed his matriculation from Phagwara in 1952, then under Panjab University, without any inkling that the world of cinema would one day hail him as one of its most striking personalities. In 1954, at nineteen, he married Prakash Kaur, and together they had four children—Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta, and Ajeeta—before destiny rerouted his life toward the arc lights of Bombay.
His entry into films came almost accidentally when he won the prestigious nationwide Filmfare talent contest, prompting him to leave Punjab for Mumbai. Though the film he was initially selected for never materialized, he soon made his debut with Arjun Hingorani’s romantic drama Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere in 1960. The film made little impact commercially, but Dharmendra’s screen presence glimmered with promise. That promise blossomed with successive performances in Shola Aur Shabnam in 1961, Anpadh in 1962, and Bimal Roy’s masterpiece Bandini in 1963, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. These early roles revealed his gift for emotive acting, his ability to express vulnerability without theatrics, and his remarkable cinematic grace.
A decisive shift occurred in 1964 with Ayee Milan Ki Bela, where Dharmendra portrayed an antagonist with such magnetic conviction that he earned a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The same year, the war epic Haqeeqat solidified his reputation as a performer of depth and sincerity. By 1966, with Phool Aur Patthar opposite Meena Kumari, his ascent to superstardom was undeniable. The film topped box office charts, earned him a Best Actor nomination, and introduced a new archetype of the Hindi film hero—gentle yet powerful, charming yet grounded. His performances in Mamta, Devar, Anupama, and Aaye Din Bahar Ke demonstrated his extraordinary range, with Anupama receiving special recognition at the National Film Awards for its subtle emotional texture.
By the late 1960s, Dharmendra had become one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars. In 1968, Shikar and Ankhen became runaway hits, the latter emerging as the year’s top grosser. Amid the tidal wave of Rajesh Khanna’s meteoric superstardom, Dharmendra remained steady, delivering what is widely considered his greatest performance in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Satyakam in 1969. The role of a man struggling to uphold moral truth remains one of the most compelling portrayals in Hindi cinema, earning the film a National Award and Dharmendra universal critical acclaim.
The 1970s marked the zenith of his stardom. In 1970, he enjoyed multiple commercial successes and began his legendary on-screen pairing with Hema Malini. Their chemistry sparkled in films such as Tum Haseen Main Jawan and Sharafat. Yet it was 1971’s Mera Gaon Mera Desh that elevated him to the status of India’s foremost action hero. This film not only turned into an all-time blockbuster but also shifted Bollywood’s narrative landscape from romance to high-voltage action. By 1972, Seeta Aur Geeta further cemented his dominance, and 1973 delivered an extraordinary sequence of hits including Loafer, Jugnu, Jheel Ke Us Paar, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, and Kahani Kismat Ki. Yaadon Ki Baaraat, designed by Salim-Javed, would go on to be termed Indian cinema’s first true masala film.
Then came 1975, the year that immortalized him. Sholay, often called the greatest Indian film ever made, initially opened to lukewarm reviews but soon turned into an unparalleled cultural phenomenon. Dharmendra’s portrayal of Veeru blended charisma, humor, courage, and tenderness into a character that transcended cinema to become folklore. The film, with its estimated 15 to 18 crore footfalls and a five-year run at Minerva Theatre, remains India’s highest-attended film. Veeru’s laughter, romance, and unrestrained spirit became inseparable from Dharmendra’s identity.
The late 1970s and 1980s further strengthened his stature. Dharam Veer (1977) became a sensation in the Soviet Union, selling 32 million tickets. In 1987, Dharmendra achieved the unprecedented feat of delivering eight successful films in a single year, including Hukumat, the year’s biggest hit. Combined with his seven successes in 1973, he became the only actor in Bollywood history to achieve seven or more hits in a year twice.
His personal life, though frequently scrutinized, remained dignified. His marriage to Hema Malini created headlines and speculation around religious conversion, though Dharmendra always maintained his faith. Their partnership produced two daughters—Esha and Ahana—and together they appeared in 31 films, forming one of Bollywood’s most cherished screen pairings. Despite the complexities of a blended family, the Deol household maintained remarkable mutual respect.
The 1990s witnessed Dharmendra’s graceful transition into mature roles. Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya in 1998 marked his shift toward character roles. A new generation embraced him again in 2007 with Life in a Metro, Apne, and Johnny Gaddaar, each performance proving that age had not dimmed his craft. The 2020s reaffirmed his timeless appeal. His tender performance in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023 moved audiences, while Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya in 2024 brought him further praise. His final film, Ikkis, scheduled for posthumous release in December 2025, stands as a fitting tribute to a life defined by cinematic brilliance.
Beyond acting, Dharmendra was a visionary producer. Vijayta Films, founded in 1983, launched Sunny Deol with Betaab, a blockbuster. Ghayal in 1990, produced by Dharmendra, swept awards and became a landmark action film. Barsaat in 1995, then India’s most expensive film, introduced Bobby Deol with resounding success. His political tenure as Member of Parliament from Bikaner (2004–2009) and his stints on television further demonstrated his multifaceted personality.
Awards followed him naturally. He received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012. His colleagues revered him, with Salman Khan calling him the most beautiful man he had ever seen, and Jaya Bachchan recalling how his Greek-god aura once left her hiding behind a sofa in awe. Madhuri Dixit and Zeenat Aman praised not only his looks but his extraordinary humility.
Dharmendra’s final months were marked by recurring health issues. In 2025, he underwent a corneal transplant, followed by multiple hospitalizations due to breathing complications. A false news wave about his death on November 11 created nationwide confusion before his family set the record straight. On November 24, he breathed his last at home, surrounded by loved ones. His funeral at Pawan Hans Crematorium drew emotional tributes from across India, with Karan Johar calling it the end of an era.
Dharmendra leaves behind Prakash Kaur, Hema Malini, his six children, and his grandson Dharam, who carries his name forward. His legacy is preserved in over 300 films, countless iconic scenes, and the hearts of generations who saw in him the hero who could laugh openly, love fiercely, and fight with dignity. Dharmendra was more than an actor; he was a feeling that defined Indian cinema’s golden age. As long as films flicker on screens, Dharamji’s glow will endure—eternal, majestic, and immortal.
(The writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
