Legendary Actor Dharmendra Passes Away at 89 Without State Honours

Legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89 at his Mumbai residence. Known as India’s “He-Man,” he worked in over 300 films during a career spanning 65 years.

The actor had been hospitalized earlier in November after experiencing breathing difficulties and was later discharged to recover at home. His funeral took place at Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai, attended by family members and numerous Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan.

Despite receiving the Padma Bhushan award and his enormous contribution to Indian cinema, Dharmendra was not given state honours, as the Deol family declined them. The last actor to receive a state funeral was veteran star Manoj Kumar, who was cremated with full state honours and a three-gun salute in Mumbai on April 5, 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, stating his passing marks “the end of an era in Indian cinema”. The actor is survived by his wives Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini, and his children including actors Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and Esha Deol.