Veteran Actor Dharmendra Passes Away at 89; Bollywood Mourns the Loss of a Legend

Veteran Bollywood legend Dharmendra has passed away at the age of 89.

Hema Malini and Esha Deol were seen outside a crematorium on Monday afternoon, two weeks after the family had brought Dharmendra home following a period of hospitalisation due to ill health. The actor had been discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital last week and was recuperating at home.

“Dharmendra was discharged at 7.30 am today. His family is taking care of him at their residence. Pray that his treatment and recovery continue smoothly,” Dr Pratit Samdani had said at the time of his discharge. Several industry colleagues, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, had visited him in recent days.

A day after the discharge, an emotional Sunny Deol was seen reprimanding photographers outside their residence, saying, “Aap logon ko sharam aani chahiye… Aapke ghar mein maa-baap hain, bachche hain,” as he folded his hands in distress.

Across a six-decade career, Dharmendra delivered some of Indian cinema’s most memorable performances in classics such as Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Phool Aur Patthar, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Seeta Aur Geeta, Raja Jani, Jugnu, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Dost, Sholay, Pratiggya, Charas and Dharam Veer.

He is also slated to appear posthumously in the upcoming war drama Ikkis, starring Agastya Nanda.