Dharmendra dies at 89: The ‘macho’ hero who broke boundaries, gave India both Sholay and Satyakam

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Dharmendra was hospitalised in October for a health check-up after complaining of breathlessness. His team had shared that he was doing well and had chosen to extend his stay at the hospital so that he could undergo proper medical screening. Earlier this year, he underwent an eye graft surgery (corneal transplantation).

An outsider who came from a village in Punjab and made Hindi cinema his own, acting in over 300 films which included both mainstream blockbusters and underrated gems, Dharmendra was among those few actors whose stardom was not impacted by the rise of Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. As he often said, he received few awards in his career but the massive love of his fans more than made up for it. He balanced Sholay — arguably the most iconic Hindi film over decades — with a Satyakam; audience will always remember his comic turn in Chupke Chupke. His career spanned decades and generations.

Dharmendra was 89. (Photo: Express Archives)

Dharmendra life journey

Dharmendra’s story is the stuff dreams, and films, are made of. Born Dharmendra Deol, he was born to a school teacher in the Sahnewal village of Ludhiana district, Punjab in 1935. His film ambitions took off after he won a national talent contest organised by a film magazine. He made his debut in Hindi films in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. The film went unnoticed and it was only next year that he delivered his first success, Shola Aur Shabnam. He followed it up with Mohan Kumar’s Anpadh (1962), and Bimal Roy’s Bandini (1963), which won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

Dharmendra came to be known as the charming, handsome man who could deliver captivating performances on screen. Phool Aur Patthar marked his first action role, and it was his action-hero image that eventually gave him the title of the ‘He-Man of Bollywood’.

The 1970s saw him in some of his most popular roles like Jeevan Mrityu, Tum Haseen Mai Jawan, Guddi, Yaadon Ki Baraat, Black Mail, Pratigya, Chupke Chupke, Sholay, Dream Girl, Dharam Veer, Seeta Aur Geeta, Dream Girl, The Burning Train among others. His role of Veeru in Sholay became his most famous.

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Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Satyen Kappu and Sanjeev Kumar in a still from Sholay. (Photo: Express Archives)

Dharmendra in Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat. (Photo: Express Archives)

Dharmendra was also known for his comic roles. (Photo: Express Archives)

Dharmendra’s personal life

Tum Haseen Mai Jawan was Hema Malini’s first film with Dharmendra, and their pairing proved to be a hit. They went on to work together in a number of films. It was during the 1970s that Dharmendra fell in love with film actor Hema Malini, even though he was already married to Prakash Kaur at the time, and was a father to four children – sons Sunny and Bobby, and daughters Ajeeta and Vijayta. His and Hema’s love story was nothing less than a movie as the two were ready to go against the world to be with each other. Despite opposition from Hema’s family, and amid conversations of her alliance with Jeetendra, Hema and Dharmendra got married. They later welcomed two daughters – Esha and Ahana.

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Dharmendra and Hema Malini on the set of Sholay. (Photo: Express Archives)

Dharmendra and Hema Malini worked together in films like Pratigya, Dream Girl, Sholay among others. (Photo: Express Archives)

Hema Malini and Dharmendra got married in 1980 and are parents to two daughters Esha and Ahana Deol. (Image: Esha/Instagram)

While Dharmendra was also married to Hema, he continued to live with his first wife Prakash and his extended family, while Hema lived close by. Over the years, it has been speculated that there was animosity within the family but they have largely tried to maintain a united front.

Dharmendra (centre) with son Sunny (left) and Bobby (right). (Photo: Express Archives)

Dharmendra with sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. (Photo: Sunny Deol/ Instagram)

Dharmendra’s last film

Towards the later part of his career, he was seen in supporting roles in films like Life in a… Metro, Johnny Gaddar, Apne, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. His film Ikkis, where he will be seen with Agastya Nanda, will release in December.

Dharmendra set up his production house Vijayta Films in 1983 and launched his son Sunny Deol with the 1983 film Betaab. They also produced films like Ghayal, Barsaat, Socha Na Tha among others. The film film produced under the banner, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, launched his grandson Karan Deol. He won a National Award for the film Ghayal under the category, Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. In 2012, the veteran actor was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2012.

Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi shared screen in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Dharmendra in a still from Johnny Gaddaar.

Dharmendra had a short-lived political career as well. The actor contested from Bikaner in Rajasthan during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and served the constituency till 2009. He did not return to politics after this even though his wife Hema continues to be a serving Member of Parliament and his son Sunny has also been an active politician in the past.

Dharmendra is survived by sons Sunny, Bobby, daughters Ajeeta, Vijayta, Esha and Ahana, along with his first wife Prakash Kaur and second wife Hema Malini.