Bollywood icon Dharmendra has died in Mumbai at the age of 89. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led tributes, saying his death marks the end of an era in Indian cinema, BBC reports.
Known for his warmth and modesty, Dharmendra earned huge devotion from fans and became a household name through more than 300 films. His role as Veeru in the 1975 classic Sholay made him a legend and remains one of the most celebrated performances in Hindi cinema.
Born Dharam Singh Deol in Punjab in 1935, he won a national talent contest that brought him to Bombay and launched a career that spanned romance, action and comedy. He gained early acclaim with Bandini in 1963 and later became a top action hero with hits like Mera Gaon Mera Desh.
His on-screen pairing with Hema Malini became one of Bollywood’s most loved and eventually turned into marriage in 1980. He continued acting into his late years, appearing in films with his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol and engaging with fans on social media.
Despite never being crowned Bollywood’s number one star or winning major acting awards at the height of his career, Dharmendra received a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012. He often said he sought love more than fame and remained grateful for the affection he received throughout his life.
