Mumbai, Nov 11: A wave of panic swept through social media and news channels after false reports claimed that veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra had passed away. The rumours were quickly quashed by his daughter Esha Deol, who confirmed that her father is stable and recovering.
Taking to Instagram, Esha wrote, “The media seems to be in overdrive and spreading false news. My father is stable and recovering. We request everyone to give our family privacy. Thank you for the prayers for Papa’s speedy recovery.”
The misinformation even prompted a premature condolence message from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which was later deleted after the clarification surfaced.
Reacting strongly to the false reports, Hema Malini also took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her disappointment. “What is happening is unforgivable! How can responsible channels spread false news about a person who is responding to treatment and is recovering? Please give due respect to the family and its need for privacy,” she wrote.
Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema’s most iconic stars, is fondly known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood. With a career spanning over six decades and more than 300 films, he remains one of the most enduring figures in Hindi cinema. His remarkable record includes eight box-office hits in 1973, seven in 1987, and nine successful releases in a single year a feat unmatched to this day.
Beyond acting, Dharmendra has also made his mark as a film producer and politician. In recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2012, India’s third highest civilian honour.