The Indian film industry is mourning the loss of Dharmendra, the iconic “He-Man” of Hindi cinema, who passed away on November 24, 2025, at his Mumbai residence. He was 89 years old. While an official cause of death has not yet been released by the family, sources indicate the veteran actor died at home after a period of fluctuating health. His passing comes just before his 90th birthday in December.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Dharmendra experienced a significant health scare that led to his admission to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on November 13. This hospitalization caused widespread concern, with numerous celebrities, including his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan, visiting him. The family confirmed he was stable and under observation, requesting privacy. This followed an earlier hospitalization on October 31, which was then described as a routine check-up. Amidst these events, his team stressed there was no cause for alarm.
False rumors of his death began circulating on social media shortly after his hospital admission, causing distress to fans. Esha Deol quickly addressed these rumors, confirming her father was stable and recovering, urging the public to stop spreading unverified news. She expressed frustration with the media’s handling of the situation, stating, “MY FATHER IS STABLE & RECOVERING. WE REQUEST EVERYONE TO GIVE OUR FAMILY PRIVACY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS FOR PAPA’S SPEEDY RECOVERY.” Family members were later seen arriving at his residence as the rumors persisted.
Hema Malini also provided updates, assuring fans that Dharmendra was under continuous monitoring at Breach Candy Hospital and surrounded by family. She thanked supporters for their concern and shared a nostalgic photo of the actor, reflecting the spirit his loved ones hoped to see return. Bobby Deol was also spotted leaving the hospital after visiting his father. Dharmendra was discharged on November 12, 2025, with doctors confirming he left the facility “fully satisfied.” His family arranged for his home treatment under medical supervision.
A deeply personal video showing Dharmendra on a hospital bed with his sons and grandsons, as well as his first wife, Prakash Kaur, surfaced online, sparking outrage over the invasion of his privacy. Sunny Deol was reportedly upset by the incident and confronted paparazzi outside the hospital.
Dharmendra’s final film appearance was in ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya.’ He was slated to appear next in Sriram Raghavan’s ‘Ikkis,’ a biographical war drama scheduled for release on December 25.