Farewell to Bollywood's 'He-Man'

Farewell to Bollywood's 'He-Man'

Dharmendra, affectionately known as the 'He-Man', passed away on Monday at the age of 89. Born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol on December 8, 1935, he was an Indian actor, producer, and politician, revered for his contributions to Hindi cinema. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most charismatic, and commercially successful actors in Indian film history, boasting a career that spanned over six decades with appearances in more than 300 films.

Dharmendra holds the record for the highest number of successful films in Hindi cinema. In 1973, he starred in eight box-office hits, and in 1987, he achieved seven consecutive successes along with nine profitable films in a single year — a record that remains unmatched to this day. In 2012, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award.

He made his film debut in 1960 with "Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere" and gained fame in the mid-1960s with movies like "Ayee Milan Ki Bela," "Phool Aur Patthar," and "Aaye Din Bahar Ke." He further cemented his status as an action star, embodying the image of the 'He-Man' in numerous action films.

From the late 1960s to the 1980s, he starred in a series of hits including "Ankhen," "Shikar," "Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke," "Jeevan Mrityu," "Mera Gaon Mera Desh," "Seeta Aur Geeta," "Raja Jani," "Jugnu," "Yaadon Ki Baaraat," "Dost," "Sholay," "Pratiggya," "Charas," "Dharam Veer," "Chacha Bhatija," "Ghulami," "Hukumat," "Aag Hi Aag," "Elaan-E-Jung," and "Tahalka."

His most acclaimed performances include those in "Anpadh," "Bandini," "Haqeeqat," "Anupama," "Mamta," "Majhli Didi," "Satyakam," "Naya Zamana," "Samadhi," "Resham Ki Dori," "Chupke Chupke," "Dillagi," "The Burning Train," "Ghazab," "Do Dishayen," and "Hathyar."

On the personal front, Dharmendra married Prakash Kaur in 1954 when he was just 19, before entering the film industry. They had two sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, both of whom became successful actors, as well as two daughters, Vijeta and Ajeeta.

After moving to Bombay and starting his film career, Dharmendra married actress Hema Malini, which caused controversy at the time due to his first marriage. The couple starred in several films together in the early 1970s, including the legendary "Sholay."

Together, they had two daughters: Esha Deol (born in 1981), also an actress, and Ahana Deol (born in 1985), an assistant director. His grandson, the son of Bobby Deol, is named Dharam, in tribute to his grandfather.