Dharmendra: Legendary Bollywood Actor and His Brief Political Journey as BJP MP

Veteran Actor Dharmendra Dies News: He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2012 (File).

New Delhi:

Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, Hindi cinema's celebrated 'he-man', passed away at 89 in his Mumbai residence on Monday afternoon, just weeks before his 90th birthday, according to news agency IANS. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led nationwide tributes, stating on X that his death "marks the end of an era in Indian cinema."

"He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played. The manner in which he played diverse roles struck a chord with countless people. Dharmendraji was equally admired for his simplicity, humility and warmth," the PM expressed.

"In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, friends and innumerable fans..."

The actor's death came 12 days after being discharged from Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital, where he had been admitted for breathlessness and placed on life support. He was subsequently released to receive treatment at home.

Honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2012, Dharmendra leaves behind his wife, actor-politician Hema Malini, who serves as the Bharatiya Janata Party's three-time Lok Sabha MP from Mathura, and six children, including actors Sunny Deol (68), Bobby Deol (56), and Esha Deol (44).

The actor enjoyed a remarkable career in cinema, earning multiple lifetime achievement awards. During the 1970s, he was even recognized as one of the world's most handsome men.

Dharmendra also had a short-lived political career. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party before the 2004 Lok Sabha election and contested from Rajasthan's Bikaner constituency, which had previously been won twice consecutively by Congress. The BJP capitalized on Dharmendra's immense popularity and supported him with high-profile campaign appearances from leaders like LK Advani. The actor successfully defeated Chaudhary Lal Dudi by nearly 60,000 votes, securing almost six percent of the vote share.

However, politics proved not to be his forte. His tenure as an MP became notable more for criticism and controversy, particularly regarding scheduling conflicts that often found him filming movies when Parliament was in session. His below-average attendance record frequently drew opposition criticism.

While constituents voiced complaints, others pointed to his extensive behind-the-scenes work. At the completion of his term, the actor departed from politics, declaring he would never return. Sunny Deol would later tell reporters that his father "didn't like politics and regretted joining it."

By then, politics had become integral to the family, with his wife Hema Malini having already completed one term as a Rajya Sabha MP in the nominated category. Eventually, Sunny Deol also entered politics with the BJP.

Deol Jr joined the party in April 2019 and contested from Punjab's Gurdaspur constituency, winning by a substantial margin of nearly 83,000 votes over then-Congress veteran Sunil Jakhar.

However, like his father, his political career never truly flourished, and attendance remained an issue. At one point, his attendance rate was 18 percent compared to the then-national average of 79 percent.

Like his father before him, he chose not to seek reelection after his term ended.

In retrospect, Dharmendra's political challenges were evident early on; during his campaign, he faced significant criticism for referring to himself as a "dictator to teach basic etiquette..."