Veteran Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, along with superstars Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, arrived at the Pawan Hans crematorium to pay their last respects to actor Dharmendra, who passed away recently.
The trio was seen arriving in their cars, amidst substantial police presence. Other industry members, including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Zayed Khan, and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, were also photographed at the venue, alongside the late actor’s family.
Dharmendra died at the age of 89. He had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in South Mumbai but was discharged after showing signs of recovery. Reports indicated that he was placed on a ventilator due to breathing difficulties. The actor resided at his Khandala farmhouse with his first wife, Prakash Kaur, having relocated due to the increasing pollution levels in Mumbai. This loss marks yet another in Hindi cinema, following the recent passing of actors Pankaj Dheer, Asrani, Satish Shah, and advertising legend Piyush Pandey last month.
One of Bollywood’s most enduring and beloved stars, Dharmendra was born in 1935 in Punjab. He started his career in the early 1960s after being discovered through a talent hunt competition. In the late 1950s, Filmfare magazine, in collaboration with Bimal Roy Productions, launched a nationwide talent contest to find new faces for Hindi cinema.
Dharmendra participated and won the competition in 1958, earning recognition for his striking looks and natural charm. This victory paved his way into the film industry, where he quickly rose to fame due to his emotional depth, charming presence, and versatility across genres. Some of his most iconic films include ‘Phool Aur Patthar,’ which established him as a leading man, and ‘Sholay,’ where he portrayed the lovable and witty character Veeru, cementing his legendary status.
In recognition of his contributions, Dharmendra was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India.