Akshay Kumar sent a heartfelt tribute on Monday to veteran actor Dharmendra, with whom he shared the screen in the 1995 action‑drama “Maidan‑E‑Jung.” He recalled the elder star as the figure every boy once dreamed of becoming. In announcing his sadness, Akshay called Dharmendra the industry’s “original He‑Man,” a larger‑than‑life presence that shaped generations of performers and cinema‑goers alike. Posting a photo of the late legend on Instagram, he wrote: “Growing up, Dharmendra ji was the hero every boy wanted to be…our industry’s original He‑Man. Thank you for inspiring generations. You’ll live on through your films and the love you spread. Om Shanti.”
“Maidan‑E‑Jung,” directed by K.C. Bokadia, featured an ensemble that included Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, Jaya Prada, Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor, Mukesh Khanna, Amrish Puri and Gulshan Grover. The film also marked Manoj Kumar’s final on‑screen appearance; he retired from acting after its release and passed away in April 2025.
Dharmendra, 89, died early Monday morning. He had been discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on November 12 after a period of recovery at home, with the medical team reporting that he was “fully satisfied” after treatment. In late October and on November 10, he had been reported in critical condition and on life support, with specialists keeping a close eye on him.
He would have celebrated his 90th birthday on December 8. His passing leaves a profound void in Bollywood.
Meanwhile, Akshay recently appeared in “Jolly LLB 3,” the third installment of the legal‑comedy series directed by Subhash Kapoor. The film reunites him with co‑stars Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla, Amrita Rao and Huma Qureshi, who reprise their roles from earlier films.
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