Dharmendra, one of the most celebrated and iconic stars of Indian cinema, passed away on 24th November, Monday, at the age of 89. Known for his charismatic personality, he has played several beloved roles in the history of Hindi cinema. As per doctors and relatives, the actor passed away due to age-related illness.
Popularly known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood, he has done more than 300 movies. Some of his most iconic movies include Phool aur Pathar, Ayee Milan ki Bela, Seeta aur Geeta, Raja Jaani, Jugnu, Yaadon ki Barat, Sholay, and Dharam Veer, among several others. The news of his death sent shock waves through the country, as the actor was once the heart of Hindi cinema, defining cinema from the 60s to the coloured cinema of 70s and 80s.
The actor’s last rites were conducted by his family at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Vile Parle, Mumbai. Several actors who have worked with the veteran actor attended his last rites. Amitabh Bachan and his son Abhishek Bachan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, Amir Khan, Sanjay Dutt and many other celebrities were present during the funeral, which was performed by his family.
Fans who were devastated at the news were also seen outside the crematorium. The crowd was difficult to control, which led to the closing of the gates to the crematorium, but the saddened fans continued to grieve outside.
The actor was hospitalised last month due to breathlessness, and later his team confirmed that he has been doing well but has decided to stay in the hospital for further checkups. He also completed a corneal transplant surgery at the beginning of the year. Dharmendra’s journey in Bollywood is an inspiration for many; he made his name as an outsider coming from a small village in Punjab.
Despite the rise of stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna, his popularity remained the same, as fans continued to praise him for his unmatched charisma. He left the world, leaving behind lots of hit movies, songs, and above all, a lot of emotions linked to them.
