India: Death of Actor Dharmendra, Bollywood Legend

India: The death of Indian actor Dharmendra, a Bollywood legend, was announced on Monday at the age of 89, marking the end of a sixty-year career during which he successfully embodied heroes in both romantic comedies and action films.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on X, stating, "The passing of Dharmendra turns a page in the history of Indian cinema. He was an icon, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to all the characters he portrayed."

Throughout his sixty-year career, Dharmendra appeared in over 250 films, served as a member of the Indian Parliament, and received several of India's highest honors.

He rose to stardom in 1966 after revealing his bare chest in "My Heart is Yours, Me with You," a first in Indian cinema, which resulted in a flood of fan letters from enamored admirers.

Born on December 8, 1935, in Punjab, he stumbled into acting after winning a magazine's talent contest dedicated to celebrities.

"I only had my dreams," he told his biographer Rajiv Vijayakar. "I was just an uneducated villager and knew nothing about the acting profession."

Dharmendra shared the screen with many of India's cinematic greats, including Hema Malini, who is considered his first female star and later became his second wife in 1980 without divorcing his first.

This did not tarnish his reputation or success. Even in 2007, his role in the cult film "Life in a Metro" at the age of 71 drew full houses.

However, he admitted in 2011, "I was never satisfied with my on-screen appearance. I always demanded new takes from my directors."

His final film is set to be released in December.

AFP