Dharmendra, the He-Man of Bollywood, was recently admitted to Breach Candy Hospital for a routine health check-up and the visit was extended for a longer observation. The 89 years old veteran actor was declared ‘dead’ on social media which sent shockwaves on the internet. The rumors were debunked with an official post from his family. He’s healthy and still thriving.

And just like that, India breathed again. The fans overwhelmed by the memories of the legend, has flooded the internet reminiscing the roles he has given to the hindi cinema. Read on to discover the everlasting legacy and an inspiring journey of the beloved actor – his education, net worth and everlasting charm.

From Nasrali to Nation’s Heart

Dharam Singh Deol, known to the world as Dharmendra, was born on December 8, 1935 in a village of Nasrali in Ludhiana, Punjab. His father was a farmer and his mother was a housewife. Despite his stardom, he had immense love for his roots and often said proudly, “Main kissan da puttar haan” (I’m a farmer’s son).

Dharmendra completed his schooling and College in Punjab but books stirred nothing in his heart like the black and white screens did. He used to travel miles and miles just to catch a glimpse of his favourite star’s movie. He was a huge fan of actress Suraiya and accepted watching her film ‘Dillagi’ more than 40 times. He often dreamt of becoming an actor like ‘Dilip Kumar’. 

He took a bold step in 1958 and entered a nationally organised talent hunt, run by Filmfare Magazine’. He won the competition and moved to Mumbai, ‘the city of dreams.’

He debuted in 1960 with Arjun Hograni’s ‘Dil bhi tera hum bhi tere’ but it didn’t make much waves. His destiny took a turn with hits like “Phool aur Patthar” (1966) which reflected his muscular charisma, good looks and excellent dialogue delivery that touched everyone’s heart, earning the title of ‘He-Man.’

He ruled every genre and lived the roles he did. From romance, action to comedy, he gave unforgettable performances and timeless classic characters like ‘Veeru’ in Sholay (1975). The Jai-Veeru friendship became an immortal name written in Indian Cinema’s golden history. His fiery screen presence once again earned him the nickname of ‘Garam Dharam.’

A love story fit for screen 

Dharmendra’s personal life is no less than a romantic cinema. He got married to Parkash Kaur at the age of 19 and together they had four children – Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeeta and Ajeeta. Later he fell in love with his co-actress and Bollywood’s ‘Dream Girl’, Hema Malini. He had to convert to Islam to get married to her so he could become her husband without divorcing Prakash Kaur. Both his families coexisted respectfully.

From Rs 51 to a rich superstar

He started with earning only Rs 51 for his first fim but through his hard work and dedication he became one of the highest-paid actors in Bollywood within a decade. At that time he earned Rs 1.5 lakh for Sholay, surpassing Amitabh Bachchan.

Most of the sources suggest that his off-screen friendship with Amitabh Bachchan became legendary and he helped Amitabh land the role of Jai in Sholay.

He bought his first car, Fiat’ after he started to get bigger paychecks, marking his transition from a village boy to a city star.

As of now, his name pops up as India’s most bankable actors with a net worth in the range of Rs 335 crore.

Also read: Is Dharmendra Alive? Here’s What Hema Malini and His Daughter Esha Deol Shared About His Health

Major Properties and Assets

• 100-acre Farmhouse in Lonavala.
• Properties in Maharashtra worth Rs 17 crore.
• Real estate investments around Rs 88 lakh (agricultural) and 52 lakh (non-agricultural) in Maharashtra.
• Luxury vehicles, including the Rover Evoque (Rs 80-85.74 lakh) and Mercedes-Benz SL500 (Rs. 98.11 Lakh).
• His film production banner ‘Vijayta Films.
• He also owns a restaurant named “Garam Dharam Dhaba.”

A career full of Gold

With a span of more than six memorable decades in the industry Dharmendra has done over 250 movies. His grace and relatable personality have earned him global admiration and multiple achievements. He has received the Padma Bhusan (2012), the National Film Award for Best Popular Film (1990), and multiple Filmfare Best Actor nominations.

He entered politics in 2004 representing Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), as a member of Parliament in Bikaner (Rajastan). However he couldn’t continue his political life and handed it over to his eldest son, Sunny Deol, who won the Gurdaspur elections in Punjab and became an MP from 2019-2024.

Legacy that will never fade

Even at this age, Dharmendra continues to appear onscreen, not as the young action hero but as a supporting father or a dignified elder. He recently appeared in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Premkahani (2023), Ikkis as M.L. Khetarpal (2025) and even shared the stage with Shahid in the song Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, showing his versatility.

He often remains active on social media and has recently shared a video of himself swimming. He lives on as a true inspiration and will perhaps never stop living in stories, on screens, and in the hearts of those who remember him.

Written by: Supriya