Congress leader and Leader of Opposition has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Bollywood superstar Dharmendra, describing his demise as “an irreparable loss for the Indian art world.”
Rahul Gandhi shared his heartfelt sentiments on X, stating, “The news of the demise of the great actor Dharmendra ji is extremely heartbreaking and an irreparable loss for the Indian art world. His unparalleled contribution to cinema over nearly seven decades will always be remembered with respect and love.” He added, “I offer my heartfelt tribute to Dharmendra. In this hour of grief, my condolences are with his bereaved family, friends, and fans.”
Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal also conveyed his profound grief following the veteran actor’s death. He remarked, “The nation has lost a true legend of cinema. I join crores of fans in mourning the loss of stalwart actor Dharmendra. His performances spanning 7 decades left a huge impact on Indian cinema and culture. My condolences to his family and fans in this difficult time.”
Dharmendra had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in South Mumbai but was discharged after showing signs of recovery. Reports indicated he had been placed on a ventilator due to breathing difficulties. The actor resided at his Khandala farmhouse with his first wife, Prakash Kaur, having moved there due to worsening pollution levels in Mumbai.
This incident marks yet another loss for the Hindi cinema community, with actors Pankaj Dheer, Asrani, Satish Shah, and advertising legend Piyush Pandey having passed away in the previous month.
Born in 1935 in Punjab, Dharmendra emerged as one of Bollywood’s most enduring and beloved stars, beginning his career in the early 1960s after being discovered during a talent hunt competition. In the late 1950s, Filmfare magazine, in collaboration with Bimal Roy Productions, organized a nationwide talent contest to find new faces for Hindi cinema.