Veteran Indian actor Dharmendra passes away

Legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra has passed away. On Monday morning, November 24, the veteran actor departed for the afterlife. He was 89 at the time of his death.

According to a report by the Indian media outlet NDTV, he had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital at the end of October due to respiratory complications. After receiving treatment, he was discharged only 12 days ago and returned home. But ultimately he could not recover; on Monday morning he passed away at his residence.

Earlier that morning, an ambulance was seen entering Dharmendra’s Juhu residence in Mumbai. Within moments, security was tightened, and barricades were placed within 50 metres of the house to control public movement.

News agency ANI tweeted that stars had begun arriving at the veteran actor’s home. Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and many others were seen there.

From then on, news of his death began to spread. Several leading Indian media outlets published reports confirming the veteran actor’s demise. However, as there was no formal announcement from the family, confusion persisted.

The biggest mystery arose around the Vile Parle crematorium in Mumbai. Multiple Indian media outlets claimed that Hema Malini, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and the entire family had been seen there. Reports also emerged that Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan had visited the site. However, with the whole family present at the crematorium yet no official confirmation of death, confusion deepened.

It is worth noting that Dharmendra’s family has still not publicly confirmed his passing. Indian media, however, claim that due to a recent spread of misleading rumours about his death, the Deol family is maintaining strict privacy this time regarding the legend’s demise.

Meanwhile, Bollywood director Karan Johar posted on social media expressing grief over Dharmendra’s death. He wrote, “The end of an era. A towering megastar. The embodiment of a mainstream cinema hero. Exceptionally handsome, with a timeless presence on screen. He was and will always remain a true legend of Indian cinema.”

Dharmendra made his Bollywood debut in 1960 with the film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. In the early years of his career, he won audiences’ hearts by playing the roles of ordinary men in films of the 1960s such as Anpadh, Bandini, Anupama, and Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke.

He later established himself as an iconic action and romantic hero. Evergreen classics such as Sholay, Dharm Veer, Chupke Chupke, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, and Dream Girl immortalised him in the history of Indian cinema. Because of his well-built physique and action roles, fans affectionately gave him the title “He-Man”.