ACTORS, directors and producers of Chhollywood have expressed deep con dolences over the death of veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra on Monday. He was 89. Secretary of Chhattisgarh Cine and Television Producers’ Sai expresses deep sorrow Association and renowned Chhattisgarhi film direc tor Manoj Verma expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of Dharmendra. Renowned Chhattisgarhi film director Verma said that Dharmendra had given various hit films like ‘Sholay’.

 

Manoj Verma said that Dharmendra was an evergreen star of Bollywood. Renowned Chhattisgarhi film director Satish Jain paid rich tributes on the death of Dharmendra. Satish Jain, who was the Assistant Director of the movie ‘Sultanat’, recalled that he had seen the shooting of veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra in movie ‘Sultanat’. Dharmendra, who was one of the biggest stars of the Indian film industry, was an emotional and romantic actor. Jain termed Dharmendra’s death as the end of an era.

 

Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol was born at Nasrali, a village in Ludhiana dis trict, Punjab on December 8, 1935. He was the son of Kewal Krishan and Satwant Kaur, and was born into a Punjabi Jat family. His ancestral village is Dangon, near Pakhowal Tehsil Raikot, Ludhiana. Dharmendra was married to Prakash Kaur and actress Hema Malini until his death. He spent his ear ly life in the village of Sahnewal and studied at Government Senior Secondary School at Lalton Kalan, Ludhiana, where his father was the village school headmaster.

 

He did his matriculation in Phagwara in 1952. In those days, schools of Punjab came under Panjab University, Chandigarh. Dharmendra was an Indian actor, producer, and politi cian, primarily known for his work in Hindi films. Dharmendra was widely considered one of the greatest, most handsome and commercially successful film stars in the history of Indian cinema. In a career spanning 65 years, he worked in over 300 films, holding the record for starring in the highest number of hit films in Hindi cinema.

 

Dharmendra made his debut in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. He first gained popularity in the mid-1960s for films, such as Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Phool Aur Patthar and Aaye Din Bahar Ke, and achieved greater stardom in later years, being dubbed India’s “He-Man” for several of his on screen roles in Hindi films He consistently starred in sev eral successful Hindi films from the late-1960s to the 1980s, such as Ankhen, Shikar, Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Jeevan Mrityu, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Seeta Aur Geeta, Raja Jani, Jugnu, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Dost, Sholay, Pratiggya, Charas, Dharam Veer, Chacha Bhatija, Ghulami, Hukumat, Aag Hi Aag, Elaan-E-Jung and Tahalka, as well as some of his acclaimed performances, include Anpadh, Bandini, Haqeeqat, Anupama, Mamta, Majhli Didi, Satyakam, Naya Zamana, Samadhi, Resham Ki Dori, Chupke Chupke, Dillagi, The Burning Train, Ghazab, Do Dishayen and Hathyar.

 

Beginning in the late 1990s, he appeared in character roles in sever al successful and acclaimed films, such as Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Life in a... Metro, Apne, Johnny Gaddaar, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to Bollywood. He was a member of 15th Lok Sabha of India, representing Bikaner constituency in Rajasthan from BJP.