Dharmendra, iconic Bollywood actor and Indian cinema’s ‘he-man,’ dies at 89

NEW DELHI — Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema’s most popular stars whose versatile performances made him a defining screen presence of 1970s and 1980s Bollywood films, died Monday.

NEW DELHI — Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema’s most popular stars whose versatile performances made him a defining screen presence of 1970s and 1980s Bollywood films, died Monday.

He was 89.

The actor, who would have turned 90 on Dec. 8, had been in and out of a hospital in the financial capital, Mumbai, over the past few weeks.

A senior police official who had spoken with Dharmendra’s doctor confirmed the death on the condition of anonymity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences, saying the actor’s death marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.