India’s hugely popular star Dharmendra was lovingly known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood, thanks to his roles in a string of action films that cemented his legacy spanning more than six decades and 250 films.
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Born Dharam Singh Deol on December 8, 1935, in Punjab, he also served as a member of parliament and was honoured with one of India’s highest civilian awards.
He struck stardom after becoming the first Bollywood actor to bare his chest on screen, prompting a flood of love letters from female fans.
Dharmendra, who died on Monday aged 89, moved to Mumbai in 1958 after winning a celebrity magazine’s talent competition.
“I only had my dreams,” he told biographer Rajiv Vijayakar. “I was an untutored villager, with no idea of acting.”
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His matinee-idol looks quickly caught the eye of producers, and he made his screen debut in 1960 with the melodrama Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (My Heart is Yours, As am I).