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Dharmendra Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth8 December 1935

Age89 Years

BirthplaceNasrali, Khanna tehsil, Ludhiana district, Punjab, India

ProfessionFilm Actor, Producer and Former Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseParkash Kaur; Hema Malini

FamilyChildren: Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeeta Deol, Ajeeta Deol, Esha Deol, Ahana Deol

Dharmendra Biography

Dharam Singh Deol, known professionally as Dharmendra, was a celebrated Indian film actor and producer whose career spanned decades. Born in Punjab in 1935

Early life and background

Dharam Singh Deol was born on 8 December 1935 in the village of Nasrali, in Khanna tehsil of Ludhiana district, Punjab. He grew up in the nearby hometown of Sahnewal and completed schooling up to the 12th standard, attending Government Senior Secondary School in Lalton Kalan and later studying at R.G. (Ramgarhia) College in Phagwara.

He developed an early fascination with cinema, inspired by the films and performers of his youth. That interest led him to enter Filmfare magazine’s new talent hunt early in his career, an experience that brought him to Mumbai as he sought work in films.

Career

Dharmendra began his film career with the 1960 movie Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. Over the 1960s and 1970s he established himself as a versatile screen presence, capable of playing romantic leads, comic roles and action heroes. His first major action film as a solo lead was Phool Aur Patthar (1966), which became the top-grossing film of that year and earned him his first Filmfare Best Actor nomination.

He worked across Hindi and Punjabi cinema and later moved into film production; his first producing credit came with Betaab in 1983. As a producer he achieved notable success with Ghayal, which earned the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and the Filmfare Award for Best Film in 1991.

Dharmendra also played a role on television, appearing in the judging panel for India’s Got Talent on Colors TV in 2011. He launched the acting careers of several relatives, including his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and his nephew Abhay Deol.

By the mid-1970s he had become one of the leading faces of Indian cinema, forming one of his most well-known on-screen pairings with Hema Malini. His filmography continued into later decades; the excerpt lists Ikkis (2025) as a posthumous release.

Public profile

Throughout his public life Dharmendra attracted wide attention for both his work and his personal life. He was nicknamed variously in the press and admired by peers and younger actors. Among honours listed in the excerpt are the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1997), the IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award (2007) and the Padma Bhushan (2012). The excerpt also notes that a Padma Vibhushan was awarded posthumously in 2026 and received on his behalf by Hema Malini.

He served a term in politics after being elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 from the Bikaner constituency on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. The public record in the excerpt includes episodes of controversy and criticism related to aspects of his political life and media coverage over the years.

Family and personal life

Dharmendra married Parkash Kaur in 1954 and the couple had children including Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, along with daughters Vijeeta and Ajeeta. He later married actress Hema Malini in 1980; the couple had two daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. The excerpt lists his parents as Kewal Kishan Singh Deol, a government school teacher, and Satwant Kaur, and mentions a brother, Ajit Singh Deol.

He followed Sikhism and was described in the excerpt as belonging to the Jatt caste. Personal interests noted include cycling, travel and watching films, and the excerpt mentions he was non‑vegetarian.

Health and final years

Dharmendra faced several health issues between 2015 and 2020, including back pain and muscle problems that sometimes required hospital care. In 2025 he underwent a corneal transplant. In October and November 2025 he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai with breathing difficulties; after a brief discharge he was readmitted and placed on ventilator support in November. False reports of his death circulated on 11 November 2025, which family members publicly refuted. He passed away on 24 November 2025 at his residence in Mumbai due to age-related illness at the age of 89.

Latest updates

The excerpt records posthumous recognitions and releases: Ikkis (2025) is listed as a posthumous film release, and the Padma Vibhushan was conferred posthumously in 2026. Family members, including Hema Malini and Esha Deol, were active in responding to public reports about his health in November 2025.
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Recent Work

Ikkis

Listed as a posthumous film release in 2025

2025
Betaab

First film produced by Dharmendra (producer debut listed as 1983)

1983
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut as film actor in Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960)
  2. Phool Aur Patthar (1966) – first solo action hit and Filmfare Best Actor nomination
  3. Producer of Ghayal (awarded National Film Award for Best Popular Film and Filmfare Best Film, 1991)
  4. Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1997)
  5. Padma Bhushan (2012)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Dharmendra born?

8 December 1935

What is Dharmendra known for?

Film Actor, Producer and Former Politician

What is Dharmendra’s marital status?

Married

Who is Dharmendra married to?

Parkash Kaur; Hema Malini