Bollywood has seen many superstars who were admired not only for their acting but also for their striking looks — and Dharmendra was one of the brightest among them. The superstar of the 1960s was considered one of the most handsome heroes of his era.
Dharmendra is still remembered as one of the most good-looking actors in the history of Hindi cinema. His health, charm, and radiant skin even impressed the legendary Dilip Kumar, who once said that he would wish to be like Dharmendra if he were to be reborn.
Jaya Bachchan was known to be a huge admirer of Dharmendra’s physique and looks, while the iconic Dev Anand also praised his glowing complexion.
In the 1970s, the renowned Times magazine named Dharmendra among the ten most handsome men in the world.
Coming from a small village in Punjab, Dharmendra carved out a place for himself in the film industry — but only after a long and difficult struggle.
His muscular, wrestler-like build often led producers to advise him to leave acting and take up wrestling instead. Some even told him to return to his village.
Dharmendra got his first break with the 1960 film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. After that, he never looked back and went on to deliver numerous superhit films.
His personal life also remained a topic of interest. He married Prakash Kaur at the age of 19, and the couple had four children — Sunny, Bobby, Ajita, and Vijeta Deol.
In 1980, Dharmendra married Hema Malini, the “Dream Girl” of Bollywood. To marry her, he converted to Islam. Dharmendra and Hema Malini have two daughters — Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.
Even at the age of 89, Dharmendra remained active in the film industry, though his health had been deteriorating in recent times. He passed away on 24 November, and his final film Ikkis is set to release on 25 December.
