Dharmendra: Bollywood’s Eternal He-Man
Mumbai, 11th November 2025: Veteran actor Dharmendra’s daughter Esha Deol and wife Hema Malini, have refuted news of his death. They said that the actor, affectionately known as Bollywood’s “He-Man,” is responding to treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, where he had been admitted on Monday evening following severe breathing difficulties.
Hospital sources confirmed that Dharmendra was put on a ventilator after his condition deteriorated.
According to sources close to the Deol family, Dharmendra’s daughters were called to Mumbai from abroad as his health worsened. His elder son, actor and politician Sunny Deol, was visibly emotional outside the hospital on Monday night. Bobby Deol rushed back from the shoot of his upcoming film Alpha to be by his father’s side.
Throughout the night, Breach Candy Hospital saw a stream of visitors from the film industry. Hema Malini, Dharmendra’s wife, reached the hospital in the evening, followed by their daughters, Ahana and Esha. Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan (accompanied by son Aryan), Govinda, and Ameesha Patel were among the many Bollywood celebrities who visited late at night to inquire about his health.
A Life of Grit and Glory
Dharmendra had been admitted to the same hospital earlier on October 31 due to respiratory complications. He was discharged after a few hours once his vitals stabilized. Earlier this year, he had undergone a cornea transplant surgery for his left eye.
Born on December 8, 1935, in Sahnewal village, Ludhiana district of Punjab, Dharmendra will be celebrating his 90th birthday soon. His rise from a modest rural background to superstardom remains one of Bollywood’s most inspiring stories.
Before his big break, Dharmendra had no formal acting training. He won a Filmfare talent hunt competition in the late 1950s and moved to Mumbai with dreams of becoming an actor. In those days, he struggled to make ends meet — walking long distances to production offices, eating roasted chickpeas for meals, and sleeping on benches when he couldn’t afford a bed.
His first film, Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960), directed by Arjun Hingorani, earned him ₹51. Yet, he remained loyal to Hingorani throughout his life, often working for nominal fees in gratitude for giving him a start in films.
The Most Handsome Man in Hindi Cinema
Regarded as one of the most handsome actors in Indian film history, Dharmendra’s charisma captivated generations of fans. Veteran actor Dev Anand once famously remarked, “Oh God, why didn’t you give me this face?” while Dilip Kumar, during the 42nd Filmfare Awards in 1997, told Dharmendra, “When I first saw you, I felt joy in my heart. What if Allah had made me like you?”
Dharmendra often said he drew inspiration from Dilip Kumar. Watching Kumar’s film Shaheed during his school days sparked his desire to act. He would spend nights dreaming about becoming like his idol and would often ask his reflection in the mirror, “Can I be Dilip Kumar?”
When Dilip Kumar presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, Dharmendra broke down in tears on stage — a moment etched in the collective memory of the film industry.
Beyond Stardom: A Down-to-Earth Legend
Despite his towering fame, Dharmendra remained deeply rooted in his rural identity. Friends and filmmakers recall how he preferred spending time at his farmhouse in Lonavala, away from the glamour of Mumbai. Producer-director K.C. Bokadia once said, “He was the only superstar who could be approached two days before a shoot, and he’d never ask about money.”
Even in his 80s, Dharmendra believed that “age is just a number.” He continued acting with infectious enthusiasm and had recently completed shooting for Ekkis, a biopic on war hero Arun Khetrapal. In the film, he plays the father of the young soldier, portrayed by Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson.
A Career That Defined Generations
Over six decades, Dharmendra appeared in more than 300 films, seamlessly transitioning between romance, comedy, and action. From Phool Aur Patthar (1966) to Sholay (1975), Chupke Chupke (1975), and Dharam Veer (1977), his versatility made him one of the most bankable stars of his time.
He also became known for his on-screen chemistry with Hema Malini, which blossomed into a real-life love story. However, not all chapters of his career were free from controversy — his closeness with Meena Kumari, for instance, reportedly caused friction with her husband, filmmaker Kamal Amrohi. Industry insiders claim that Amrohi once made Dharmendra’s character’s face blackened in a scene of Razia Sultan as a personal act of resentment.
“A Romantic Hero Forever Young”
Dharmendra’s passion for cinema never waned. According to director Ashok Tyagi, he once told him, “I want to do a love story with Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. I’ll show today’s young actors what real romance looks like.” Though that film never materialized, his spirit remained forever youthful.
He is fondly called Garam Dharam by fans, yet he carried himself with simplicity and humility.
