Veteran actor Dharmendra, fondly called ‘He-Man’ of Bollywood, passes away at 89. Film industry mourns, major event postponed; Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh attend last rites.

Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, revered by generations as the industry’s original ‘He-Man’ and lovingly referred to as Dharam Paaji, passed away on Friday at the age of 89. With a prolific career spanning more than six decades, his legacy remains etched in Indian cinema through iconic roles that shaped action and romance on screen.

Following the news of his demise, a major film industry event was postponed out of respect. Top actors, including Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, were seen arriving to pay their final tributes at the last rites.

Analysis: Dharmendra’s passing marks the end of an era for Hindi cinema. Beyond his filmography, he represented a generation of stars who built their careers without the backing of modern publicity tools. His influence stretched from the classic cinema era to contemporary Bollywood, inspiring actors for decades. As tributes pour in, industry voices highlight the need to preserve his cinematic contributions for future generations