Culture Craze
Bollywood Mourns Dharmendra: A Legend’s Final Farewell at 89
A star born in Punjab, a legacy that reached beyond borders
The Hindi film world has lost one of its giants. On Monday, 24 November 2025, beloved actor and former MP Dharmendra passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89. Once a small-town boy from Punjab, he rose to become one of the most prolific and enduring faces of Indian cinema, leaving fans across the world in both reverence and sorrow.
From farming fields to the silver screen
Born in Sahnewal village, Punjab, in December 1935, Dharmendra came from a farming family and moved to Mumbai in the late 1950s to try his luck at acting. His debut came in 1960, but it was his work in the early 1960s and mid-70s that turned heads. What began with modest roles blossomed into something much bigger over six decades and more than 300 films.
The He-Man and the charmer in one
Dharmendra earned the nickname India’s “He-Man” thanks to a string of high-octane action films in the 1980s. At the same time, he showed the gentle side of heroism in romantic comedies and socially minded dramas. His part as lovable rogue Veeru in the 1975 classic Sholay remains iconic in Indian popular culture. Moreover, his on-screen partnership with actress Hema Malini, whom he later married, explored new emotional territory for Hindi cinema.
More than just box-office magic
Beyond his films, Dharmendra dabbled in production and even served in India’s Parliament from 2004-2009, representing the BJP. In 2012, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours, in recognition of his contributions to cinema. He passed away just weeks shy of his 90th birthday, leaving behind a vast body of work and a family of fellow actors, including his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol and daughter Esha Deol.
Joburg and the global ripple effect
Here in South Africa, we feel the loss too. Bollywood-trained actors and Indian diaspora audiences in Johannesburg knew his name; Indian films remain a cultural thread across Soweto, Sandton, and beyond. On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, fans posted clips of “Veeru” cheering and shared stills of the sweaty, triumphant hero with buffaloes and desert backdrops. One local post from a Johannesburg film club read, “We learnt to whistle at the screen because of him.”
Tribute from the highest office
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a heartfelt tribute, saying the actor’s death “marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.” Colleagues from around the film world echoed that sentiment; many shared memories of his warmth, his approachable nature, and the way his presence lit up the screen and set alike.
A career with extra chapters
For younger South African viewers new to his work, Dharmendra’s career had distinct phases. The 1960s brought him candid romances and early triumphs; the 1970s made him a national star in both action and comedy. The 1980s solidified his macho-hero image. As the 1990s and 2000s rolled in, he embraced father figures and character parts yet kept the charisma. His final film, Ikkis (released posthumously in late 2025), rounds off the six-decade journey.
What he leaves behind
His legacy is layered: the strong-silent hero, the flirtatious romantic lead, and the humble man off-screen. What stands out for many in South Africa is his ability to straddle tradition and modernity, to bring Punjabi roots and Mumbai glamour into one frame. In today’s age of streaming, new audiences will discover his rhythm-filled songs, his daring stunts, and his witty comic timing. He served as a bridge between Indian cinema’s past and its global future.
A local reflection
In Johannesburg, one could argue that his appeal reflects our own blend of global and local culture. Just as our audience embraces American blockbusters and local township storytelling alike, Dharmendra embodied a blend of mass appeal and local charm. His passing invites a moment of remembrance for how film travels beyond borders and how a legend born in rural Punjab can become a patron of screens from Bombay to Braamfontein.
Final curtain
As the film world lights dim on one of its brightest stars, there is both loss and celebration. The fast cuts, the hearty laughs, and the dramatic pauses are all now part of memory. Yet his films remain, his image lingers, and those whistles in darkened theatres will echo his presence. For fans old and new, Dharmendra will remain that hero walking alongside us in the frame.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: India Today
