Bollywood Veteran Actor Dharmendra Passes Away

 Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, considered an epochal figure in Indian cinema, has passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to him, stating that Dharmendra's demise marks "the end of an era in Indian cinema." Often referring to himself as a "simple man," he managed to win the immense love and respect of millions of fans over decades.

He rose to prominence through his beloved character 'Veeru' in the immensely popular 1975 film 'Sholay' and graced Indian cinema by acting in over 300 films. Known by the nicknames "He-Man of Bollywood" and "Garam Dharam," Dharmendra often featured on lists of the world's most attractive men during his youth, and it's a well-known fact that female fans used to sleep with his photographs under their pillows.

Even Bollywood stars like Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan, and Jaya Bachchan admired his good looks, but Dharmendra was always shy to talk about it, humbly stating it was a gift from nature, his parents, and his genes. Born Dharam Singh Deol on December 8, 1935, in a middle-class family in Nasrali village, Punjab, his teacher-father wanted him to focus on studies, but he had a strong passion for films from a young age. After winning a competition organized by Filmfare magazine, he came to Bombay (now Mumbai) to pursue his dream.

He entered cinema in 1960 and reigned in Bollywood for three decades, gaining prominence through Bimal Roy's 1963 film 'Bandini'. Successful as a romantic lead alongside popular actresses like Nutan, Meena Kumari, and Mala Sinha, he later established himself as an action hero through films like 'Phool Aur Patthar' and 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh'. The tall and well-built Dharmendra often took risks for thrilling action sequences and also proved his talent for comedic acting through films like 'Chupke Chupke'.

Although he once stated he had acted with around 70 heroines, his most successful on-screen partner was Hema Malini. Their romance blossomed in the 1970s through films like 'Seeta Aur Geeta' and 'Sholay,' and despite Dharmendra already being married to Prakash Kaur with children, he married Hema Malini in 1980 amidst family objections. Dharmendra briefly entered politics, serving as a Member of Parliament from 2005 to 2009, but later admitted he was not suited for it, stating that "politics is for those without emotional attachment, not for emotional people."

Although he could never officially claim the "number one" spot in Bollywood due to powerful contemporaries like Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, and Amitabh Bachchan, he was honored with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government in 2012. He often said that fame was temporary and all he desired was the love of the people. Following his demise, messages of condolence poured in across social media, with Akshay Kumar stating that Dharmendra was the hero every growing boy wanted to be. Director Karan Johar also stated that his passing leaves an irreplaceable void in the industry and that there will forever be only one Dharmendra.