Bollywood is mourning the loss of one of its most cherished stars, Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday at the age of 89. Among the many tributes pouring in, superstar Shah Rukh Khan shared a touching message that reflected the deep bond he shared with the veteran actor.
On X (formerly Twitter), Shah Rukh posted a throwback picture of himself with Dharmendra and wrote, “Rest in Peace Dharam ji. You were nothing short of a father figure to me… thank you for showering me with blessings and love the way you did. An inconsolable and irreplaceable loss to not just his family, but to cinema and film lovers world over.” He added, “You are immortal, and your soul will live through your films and your beautiful family forever. Love you always.”
Rest in Peace Dharam ji. You were nothing short of a father figure to me… thank u for showering me with blessings and love the way you did. An inconsolable and irreplaceable loss to not just his family, but to cinema and film lovers world over. You are immortal… and your soul… pic.x.com/Vsxe8C8qVZ
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 24, 2025
Dharmendra, fondly called the He-Man of Hindi cinema, was one of Bollywood’s most enduring and beloved actors. Born in 1935 in Punjab, he was discovered through a nationwide talent hunt organised by Filmfare magazine in collaboration with Bimal Roy Productions in the late 1950s. His striking looks and natural charm won him the contest in 1958 opening the doors to a legendary film career. Interestingly the same talent hunt later introduced the world to Rajesh Khanna.
From his very first films, Dharmendra’s screen presence captured audiences. His early film ‘Phool Aur Patthar’ established him as a leading man while his role as Veeru in the blockbuster ‘Sholay’ turned him into a cultural icon. With a career spanning over six decades he starred in countless hits and won the hearts of audiences.
Beyond his films, Dharmendra was honored with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award.