At a Glance: Who Is Dharmendra?
- Full Name: Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol (Wikipedia)
- Birth Date & Age: Born on 8 December 1935, he’s currently 89 years old (Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica)
- Origins: Hails from Nasrali (Sahnewal), Punjab, India; youngest of six children to Kewal Krishan (a teacher) and Satwant Kaur (Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica)
- Professions: Renowned actor, producer, and former politician (served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha for Bikaner, BJP, from 2004 to 2009) (Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica)
Career Highlights
- Breakthrough: Entered Bollywood after winning a Filmfare talent hunt. Made his debut in Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960) (Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica)
- Rise to Stardom: Early hits included Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Phool Aur Patthar, Aaye Din Bahar Ke; truly cemented his star power through major films like Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Ankhen, and Dharam Veer (Wikipedia)
- Nickname & Legacy: Known as Bollywood’s “He-Man“. He’s considered one of Indian cinema’s most handsome and bankable stars, with over 300 films to his credit—holding records for most hits, including eight in one year (1973) and seven consecutive hits in 1987 (Wikipedia)
- Awards & Honors: Padma Bhushan (2012), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement (1997) (FilmiBeat, Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia)
- Recent Work: Still active—appeared in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), and TV projects like Taj: Divided by Blood (2023) and Showtime (2024) (BookMyShow, Wikipedia)
Personal Life Snapshot
- Marriages:
- Prakash Kaur (1954–): Four children—Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol (both actors), Ajeeta Chaudhri, and Vijayta Gill (Encyclopedia Britannica, FilmiBeat)
- Hema Malini (1980–): Actress and politician—two daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol (Encyclopedia Britannica, FilmiBeat)
- Family in Film: Launched both sons’ acting careers—Sunny in Betaab, Bobby in Barsaat; nephew Abhay Deol is also an actor (StarsUnfolded, FilmiBeat)
- Roots in Cinema: Fascinated by Bollywood from a young age; reportedly once walked miles to watch his idol, Suraiya, in Dillagi (StarsUnfolded, National Today)
Estimating His Wealth
Net worth figures vary depending on source and estimation method:
- CelebrityNetWorth: ~$60 million (USD), combined with wife Hema Malini (Celebrity Net Worth)
- ₹335 crores (approx. USD 40–45 million): Reported by multiple lifestyle and financial outlets (The Financial Express, Lifestyle Asia)
- ₹1,500–1,800 crores (~USD 180–220 million): Higher-end estimates published in 2024 sources (Facebook)
Bottom line: Estimates range from ₹335 crores to upwards of ₹1,500 crores (USD 40 million–220 million). Variations arise from different methods—assets, business ventures (like his dhaba and brand deals), and earnings from decades in film (The Financial Express, Facebook, Celebrity Net Worth)
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 89 years |
| Roles | Actor, producer, former MP |
| Career | 300+ films; major hits in 1960s–80s; active even in 2020s |
| Honors | Padma Bhushan, Lifetime Achievement awards |
| Family | Two wives, six children—all with strong Bollywood ties |
| Net Worth | Widely estimated between ₹335 crores to ₹1,800 crores (USD 40–220 million) |
In a way, Dharmendra’s story is about consistency and reinvention. From his charming debut to his action legacy and roles in modern films, he stayed relevant. His family continues the legacy, and financially, he’s done well across multiple ventures.