With Bollywood's beloved 'Dharam Paaji' no longer among us, THE WEEK takes a trip down memory lane.
The veteran Bollywood actor breathed his last at his residence on Monday, aged 89.
Born on December 8, 1935, in Punjab's Sahnewal, Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol, known mononymously as Dharmendra, is considered one of the greatest stars in Bollywood history.
He burst onto the film scene in 1950, going on to act in films like 'Sholay', 'Phool Aur Patthar', 'Seeta Aur Geeta', 'Chupke Chupke', 'Dharam Veer', and 'Pratigya' for six decades.
News reports earlier this month had proclaimed his death, later confirmed to be false. However, this time, his respiratory complications have sadly proven to be fatal.
He is the recipient of various awards—from the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 to a Padma Bhushan in 2012.
The 'He-Man' of India had also briefly entered the BJP in 2004, during its 'India Shining' campaign, going on to become an MP during a political career that lasted 5 years.
Dharmendra is survived by his wife, Hema Malini, his first wife Prakash Kaur, and his children, including sons Sunny and Bobby Deol, and daughters Esha and Ahana Deol.
RIP Dharmendra! India will miss you.