Not long after the passing of comedian Asrani, who played the iconic ‘Jailer Saheb’ in the hit Bollywood western “Sholay,” the film fraternity and fans alike mourn the loss of the movie star Dharmendra, who lost his battle with age-related ailments on November 24, 2025 (at the age of 89).
Hailing from Punjab, the actor broke all stereotypes of the one-dimensional Sardarji, who was usually reduced to a caricature in movies. Instead he opted to play hyper-masculine action heroes, particularly in the early ’70s. This would in turn earn him the moniker of ‘He-Man’. Simultaneously, the dashing actor became a mainstay in Bollywood romances as the smooth-talking lead due to his captivating good looks and ability to charm the masses with a charismatic screen presence. He mirrored Old Hollywood counterparts like Clark Gable or Humphrey Bogart.
Remembering Bollywood’s ‘He-Man’
Dharmendra’s career further gained momentum upon the release of “Sholay” in 1975, in which he matched steps with the ‘Angry Young Man of Bollywood,’ Amitabh Bachchan—playing the loyal Veeru to the latter’s Jai. His bromance with co-star Bachchan instantly grabbed eyeballs in this classic that revolved around a pair of outlaws hired by a local sheriff to exact revenge on his nemesis, the notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh. A scene in which his character Veeru throws a hissy fit atop a water tank in an inebriated state—while a concerned crowd gathers around—highlighted Dharmendra’s pitch-perfect comic delivery, too.
“Sholay”also paired him alongside future wife Hema Malini, then the reigning ‘Dream Girl of Bollywood.’ The power couple’s on-screen and off-screen whirlwind romance also set tongues wagging. In the ’80s, Dharmendra was on a roll. He starred in the titular role in action-fantasy, “Alibaba aur 40 Chor,” as well as alongside an all-star ensemble in “The Burning Train.”
While the 1990s weren’t too kind, the early 2000s saw a shift in Dharmendra’s choice of roles. The yesteryear star could no longer pull off high octane stunts as he did during his heyday due to age catching up. However, the octogenarian was affectionately nicknamed ‘Dharam Paaji’ due to his seniority. He remained active on social media, sharing his inspirational workout regime with adoring fans. Here he rebranded, playing the role of quintessential father figures or mentors in the boxing drama “Apne” and the critically acclaimed neo noir thriller “Johnny Gaddaar.” Further, he was also bestowed with the ‘Padma Bhushan,’ India’s third-highest civilian award, for his work in the industry.
From Action to Romance
With more mellow and mature roles, such as an elderly hopeless romantic who reconnects with his childhood sweetheart in Anurag Basu’s “Life in A Metro.” It was a grounded slice of life set in a crowded metropolitan, and Dharmendra flexed that he still had charm to spare, all while shedding the ‘He-Man’ image for the everyman archetype. The actor would reprise a role in a similar vein in the more melodramatic Karan Johar directed “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” (2023) and received several award nods in the supporting actor category for the same.
A ‘son of the soil,’ Dharmendra occasionally contributed to Punjabi cinema and was known for frequent collaborations with sons Sunny (who followed in his father’s footsteps as Bollywood’s new-age ‘strongman’/action hero) and Bobby Deol. They appeared in the slapstick comedy franchise “Yamla Pagla Deewana” and also appeared briefly in “Tell Me O Kkhuda.” The latter marked daughter Esha Deol’s Bollywood comeback and his wife Hema’s directorial debut.
Dharmendra will forever be remembered for not only straddling formulaic action and complex/tragic romance dramas with ease, but also his ability to transition into age-appropriate love stories in his later years. He proved that age is just a number when it comes to essaying the classiest and most passionate on-screen paramours.
