Bollywood Star Dharmendra Dies At 89

Bollywood star Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol has died at the age of 89.

Dharmendra died Monday in a hospital in the Indian city of Mumbai.

The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, mourned the actor in a tribute, saying his passing “marks the end of an era in Indian cinema”.

The former Bollywood star was born on 8 December 1935 in Nasrali village in Punjab’s Ludhiana district.

He was named Dharam Singh Deol by his schoolteacher father.

During his lifetime Dharmendra described himself as “a simple man”, commanding extraordinary affection and loyalty from his tens of millions of fans.

He played several iconic roles, but he is best known as Veeru, in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay. However,  Dharmendra featured in over 300 films, many hits, captivating audiences for decades.

At one time, the actor, who was once dubbed the “original He-Man of Bollywood” and “Garam (hot) Dharam”, made it to global lists of “most handsome men” at the peak of his success; and female fans were known to sleep with his photographs under their pillows.

He is survived by two wives Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini; six children, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Esha Deol, Ahana Deol, Vijeta, and Ajeeta Deol; and thirteen grandchildren.