November 12, 2025
NEW DELHI – A wave of panic spread across social media and news channels recently with reports claiming that veteran actor Dharmendra had passed away. However, his daughter Esha Deol quickly set the record straight, posting on Instagram, “THE MEDIA SEEMS TO BE IN OVERDRIVE AND SPREADING FALSE NEWS. MY FATHER IS STABLE & RECOVERING. WE REQUEST EVERYONE TO GIVE OUR FAMILY PRIVACY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS FOR PAPAS SPEEDY RECOVERY.”
The confusion even reached the corridors of power, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeting about the news, only to delete the post later.
After Esha Deol, Hema Malini also refuted the media reports talking about the death of Dharmendra. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “What is happening is unforgivable! How can responsible channels spread false news about a person who is responding to treatment and is recovering? This is being extremely disrespectful and irresponsible. Please give due respect to the family and its need for privacy.”
Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol, popularly known simply as Dharmendra, is one of Bollywood’s most celebrated actors. Known for his striking looks and versatile performances, he earned the affectionate nickname “He-Man” of Hindi cinema. Over a remarkable career spanning more than six decades, he has appeared in over 300 films, setting records with an incredible string of hits.
Some of his notable achievements include delivering eight box-office hits in 1973 and seven consecutive hits in 1987, along with nine successful films in a single year, a record that still stands. Beyond acting, Dharmendra has also worked as a producer and politician. His immense contribution to Indian cinema was recognized with the Padma Bhushan in 2012, India’s third-highest civilian award.