An amazing cornerstone of Indian cinema has collapsed. The cherished “He-Man” of Hindi cinema, Dharmendra, died on November 24, 2025, leaving a legacy spanning more than six incredible decades. Over the course of his 65-year career, he continued to shine into his eighties as a symbol of timeless charm and calm strength.
In Phool Aur Patthar, Dharmendra’s shirt removal marked the beginning of Hindi cinema’s awakening to the idea of appealing to feminine desire. Dharmendra looked like an Italian, according to his co-star Saira Banu, until he started talking. The raw charm of the Jatt, who could appear effortlessly handsome in a dinner jacket, was only one aspect of his allure.
Dharmendra was the epitome of the pleasant guy, with arms as strong as the fields of Punjab where he was raised, a warm smile, and a soft shyness. From a young age, he was enthralled with movies and would travel great distances from his hamlet of Phagwara to attend screenings at a touring theater.
He began working for an American drilling company and married a Punjabi girl at 19. However, fate had other ideas. For a little signing fee of ₹51 and a daily meal of tea, two pieces of bread, and butter (no jam) at a Grant Road café, the sharp-featured newcomer was drawn to Bombay and got his first break in Arjun Hingorani’s Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960).
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