Dharmendra (1935–2025): The Last of the Gentle Giants
Film actor Dharmendra at IIFA awards. (Image IIFA)
Dharmendra, Bollywood’s beloved ‘He-Man’ and one of Indian cinema’s most iconic self-made stars, passes away at 89, leaving behind a six-decade legacy of unforgettable films, poetry, and pure human warmth.
By S JHA
Mumbai, November 24, 2025 — Dharmendra, the heartthrob who became India’s most beloved man of the masses, passed away at 89—closing an era of cinema that believed in honesty, heroism, romance, and raw emotional truth. For over six decades, he remained the rare star who could make you laugh, cry, fight, hope, and fall in love—all in the span of a single frame.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mourning his passing, summed it up with clarity: “The passing of Dharmendra Ji marks the end of an era… He brought charm and depth to every role. He was admired for his simplicity, humility and warmth.”
He was not merely a star; he was a feeling. As IIFA said, “Dharmendra ji wasn’t just an actor, he was an emotion.”
A Farmer’s Son Who Became a National Icon
Born Dharam Singh Deol in Punjab, Dharmendra carried the soil of his homeland in his voice, his eyes, and his poetry. He often introduced himself not as a superstar, but as “mitti ka beta.” As Sahitya Sathi recalled, he wrote: “मिट्टी का बेटा हूं,
मरते–मरते भी कुछ कर जाऊंगा…”
He lived that philosophy—earnest, unfiltered, deeply human.
Simran’s tribute captured it poignantly: “No godfather, no family links… a farmer’s son who became India’s favourite hero.” Dharmendra’s journey remains one of Indian cinema’s most powerful stories of self-made success.
The He-Man Who Could Break a Door or Break Your Heart
To call him versatile would be insufficient. Dharmendra moved effortlessly between genres. In Phool Aur Patthar (1966), he became Bollywood’s original “He-Man,” the man with a granite jaw and molten heart. In Chupke Chupke (1975), his comedic timing became the stuff of textbooks—Professor Parimal Tripathi remains one of Indian cinema’s finest comic performances.
And in Sholay (1975), as the impulsive, tender-hearted Veeru, he delivered lines that will echo forever in the nation’s cultural memory: “Basanti, in kutton ke saamne mat nachna!” “Yeh dosti hum nahin todenge.”
It wasn’t just dialogue—it was emotional geography.
Javed Akhtar remembered the first time he saw Dharmendra on screen: “I have not seen ‘Greek God’. I do not regret it. Because I have seen Dharmendra… dekhta tha jo insaan, dekhta hi reh jaata tha.”
Akhtar was right: Dharmendra wasn’t handsome in the filmi sense; he was handsome in the mythic sense.
The Doppel Life of Stardom and Softness
For a man hailed as the original macho hero, he had the gentlest voice. His softness came through in interviews, especially the one Rahul recalled—Dharmendra remembering his late parents with quiet guilt: “Beta, ghar jaldi aa jaana…”
It revealed an eternal truth: even the greatest heroes are sons first.
A Catalogue of Unmatched Classics
His filmography is a corridor of iconicity:
- Bandini (1963) – The quiet doctor who brought warmth into an austere world.
- Satyakam (1969) – Perhaps his finest performance, a man of integrity crushed by his ideals.
- Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) – The charming, street-smart Ravi.
- Sholay (1975) – The immortal Veeru.
- The Burning Train (1980) – Heroism on wheels.
- Dharam Veer, Jugnu, Jeevan Mrityu, Anupama, Dream Girl, and dozens more.
And before “pan-India films” became a marketing term, Dharmendra acted in multiple languages and gave a Bengali gem like Paari (1966), remembered by critics as a rare moment of linguistic dedication from a Hindi film superstar.
A Man Loved On-Screen, and Even More Off-Screen
His colleagues adored him. Crews trusted him. The nation embraced him.
Filmfare, in its tribute, captured this unique space he occupied:
“Affectionately known as ‘He-Man’ and ‘Dharam Paaji,’ his passing leaves behind an unmatched legacy.”
The Final Fade-Out
As news of his passing spread, one line echoed again and again across India: “There will never be another Dharmendra.”
He leaves behind a constellation of actors—Sunny, Bobby, Esha, Ahana—and a galaxy of fans who grew up believing that goodness could look like muscle and poetry at the same time.
He leaves behind roles that shaped generations, songs that softened hearts, and a cinematic innocence that may never return.
Dharmendra exits the stage the way he lived on it—quietly, gracefully, without demand for applause. But applause is all he will receive now, for years to come.
He once wrote: “चीर के सीना धरती का फसल नई बो दूंगा।” And he did.
He sowed six decades of memories. The harvest will last a lifetime.
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