New Delhi: Veteran Bollywood icon Dharmendra, popularly known as the “He-Man” of Hindi cinema, passed away at his Mumbai residence on November 24, 2025. He was 89 years old. The legendary actor was experiencing ups and downs in health in the weeks before his death, which occurred just weeks before his 90th birthday in December.
Health concerns and hospitalization
Dharmendra was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on November 13, after his health deteriorated, raising concerns among fans and the film fraternity. During this time many celebrities came to show their support.
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Separate prayer sparks speculation
After his demise, the veteran actor’s family held separate prayer meetings, which left many fans surprised.
Son Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol hosted the first prayer vigil at Taj Lands End in Mumbai on November 27.
The same day, Dharmendra’s wife Hema Malini organized a Geeta recital at her home, which was also attended by her daughters Esha and Ahana Deol.
Read here Hema Malini skipped the prayer meeting organized by Dharmendra’s first wife Prakash Kaur, instead held a separate prayer meeting
Later, Hema and her daughters organized another prayer meeting in Delhi on 11 December.
Hema Malini broke her silence
Addressing the speculations of family feud, Hema Malini clarified in an interview with TOI, saying:
“This is a personal matter in our house. We talked to each other. I held a prayer meeting at my home because the people in my group are different. Then, I held a prayer meeting in Delhi because I am in politics, and it was important for me to hold a prayer meeting there for my friends from that area. Mathura is my constituency, and people there are crazy about them. So, I held a prayer meeting there too. I am happy with what I did.”
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Hema’s comments come after novelist and columnist Shobhaa De suggested that she was left out of the initial prayer meeting.
Future plans for Dharmendra’s legacy
When Hema was asked about the possibility of converting Dharmendra’s Lonavala farmhouse into a museum, she said:
“I think Sunny is planning to do something on the same lines. He will definitely do it. Everything is going well. So there is no need to worry that these are two different families, who knows what will happen. No one needs to worry so much. We are absolutely fine.”
return to work
Hema Malini also shared that she was resuming work, believing that it would make her late husband happy. Fans and the film fraternity are remembering Dharmendra’s six-decade legacy, celebrating his contribution to Indian cinema.