Veteran actor Dharmendra, known as Bollywood’s ‘He-Man’, passed away today at the age of 89 after a long illness earlier today (November 24). His death has left the film industry and fans across the country heartbroken and shocked. Videos of family members and industry friends including Esha Deol, Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Salman Khan arriving at the crematorium started circulating on social media soon after. Dharmendra was one of the most loved stars in Indian cinema, and his passing marks the end of a legendary era.
A star loved by millions
Dharmendra worked in more than 300 films over six decades. He became famous for his strong screen presence, charming personality and memorable dialogues. He acted in many popular films like Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Satyakam, Phool Aur Patthar and Dharam Veer. Among all his movies, Sholay remains the most iconic. Fans still remember his role as Veeru, which became one of the highlights of the film.
An anecdote from Sholay
There is a special behind-the-scenes moment from Sholay that shows Dharmendra’s deep dedication to acting. The scene is the famous confrontation where Veeru tells Thakur: “Hamaare gaon mein ek hi Thakur rehta hai!”
The first take of the scene was approved by director Ramesh Sippy. But Dharmendra was not happy with it. He felt that Veeru’s pain and anger were not coming out strongly enough.
‘Yeh scene Veeru ka dil hai’
To get the right emotion, Dharmendra stepped away from the set and spent about ten minutes alone. He tried to feel the anger, hurt and betrayal his character was supposed to experience. After that, he returned and requested another take. He told the director, “Yeh scene Veeru ka dil hai. Isse perfect hona chahiye.”
The second take was powerful and full of emotion. It was so good that Sippy immediately approved it. This is the version that appears in the final film and is still remembered by fans today.
A crew member later said, “We knew him as a romantic hero, but that day we saw how intense he could be.” As the country mourns Dharmendra’s death, stories like these show why he will always be remembered as one of Indian cinema’s greatest and most dedicated actors.