Bollywood acting icon Dharmendra has died at 89.
Dubbed the “original He-Man of Bollywood, he appeared in more than 300 films in a career that lasted more than six decades. He passed in Mumbai earlier today. Local reports suggested he had been unwell for several weeks and was admitted to hospital.
Indian Prime Minister was among those paying tribute, writing: “The passing of Dharmendra Ji marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.”
He was considered one of Indian cinema’s most handsome men and often called ‘Garam Dharam’ (‘Hot Dharam’), a moniker he found embarrassing. Despite his desire to play it down, numerous co-stars and Indian entertainment figures pointed to his good looks, with Salman Khan once calling him the “most beautiful looking man.”
Dharmendra enjoyed a long-lasting connection with his fans, and was known to star in Sholay (Embers), the influential 1975 Indian film in which he starred as a lovable rogue and petty criminal hired to capture a notorious bandit.
Having begun his career with 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera, Hum Bhi Terehe quickly became a leading man in Indian romantic movies before moving into action in the 1970s. Also acting in light comedies, slapstick films and arthouse pics, his biggest hits included Phool Aur Patthar – (his first leading role) – along with Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Phool Aur Patthar among many others.
Dharmendra final role was in Run away (Twenty-One), directed by Sriram Raghavan, in which he plays the father of a young soldier (Agastya Nanda). Releasing on December 8, a trailer for the pic dropped today.
The actor also produced a small number of films, which primarily starred two of his six children, Sunny and Bobby Deol. He married another Bollywood icon, Hema Malini, in 1980, and was briefly involved in politics as a Bharatiya Janata Party politician.
Indian producer and presenter Karan Johar was also among those paying tribute to Dharmendra today, writing on Instagram, “It is the end of an era” and that the star was “the embodiment of a hero in mainstream cinema” in a heartfelt message.
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