Indian cinema mourns the loss of Dharmendra, the iconic “He-Man” of Bollywood, who passed away at his Mumbai home on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89. The veteran actor, a beloved figure for over six decades, died after a period of fluctuating health. While an official cause of death is yet to be announced by his family, his passing comes just weeks before his 90th birthday in December.
His recent health concerns had kept fans on edge. Dharmendra was hospitalized at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on November 13, prompting a flurry of visits from industry colleagues and family, including his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and close friends like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. His family had previously attributed an earlier October 31 hospitalization to a routine check-up, reassuring the public that there was no cause for alarm.
False death rumors had circulated widely on social media following his hospitalizations, causing distress. His daughter, Esha Deol, actively dispelled these rumors, confirming her father’s stable condition and urging for privacy. Hema Malini, Dharmendra’s wife, also provided updates, stating he was under observation and surrounded by loved ones. Dharmendra was discharged from Breach Candy Hospital on November 12, 2025, reportedly feeling “fully satisfied” with his treatment and was set to continue his recovery at home with medical supervision.
A deeply personal video from the hospital, showing Dharmendra with his emotional sons and grandsons, surfaced online, drawing widespread criticism for the invasion of privacy. The legendary actor’s final on-screen appearance was in ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya,’ and he was slated to be seen next in Sriram Raghavan’s ‘Ikkis’.