Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, often hailed as the “He-Man” of Hindi cinema, is alive and recovering from his recent hospitalization. On November 11, 2025, his wife, actress and politician Hema Malini, issued a strong statement on X (formerly Twitter) slamming media outlets for spreading unverified and harmful death hoaxes about the 89-year-old icon. This comes amid reports of Dharmendra being admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital since early November for breathlessness and placed on ventilator support for close monitoring.
Hema Malini’s Statement
In her post, Hema Malini expressed outrage over the “unforgivable” misinformation, emphasizing the family’s distress during a sensitive time. Here’s the full text of her message:
“What is happening is unforgivable! How can responsible channels spread false news about a person who is responding to treatment and is recovering? This is being extremely disrespectful and irresponsible. Please give due respect to the family and its need for privacy.”
— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema), November 11, 2025
She confirmed that Dharmendra is responding well to treatment and stable, urging fans and media to respect their privacy and focus on prayers for his speedy recovery.
Family’s Unified Response
- Esha Deol (Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s daughter): Earlier, Esha took to Instagram to call out the “overdrive” of false reporting, stating: “THE MEDIA SEEMS TO BE IN OVERDRIVE AND SPREADING FALSE NEWS. MY FATHER IS STABLE & RECOVERING. WE REQUEST EVERYONE TO GIVE OUR FAMILY PRIVACY.” She was spotted visiting the hospital alongside Hema Malini.
- Sunny Deol (Dharmendra’s elder son from his first marriage): His team released an official statement late on November 10, affirming: “Mr. Dharmendra is stable and under observation. Further comments and updates will be shared as available. Kindly don’t indulge in spreading false rumours regarding his health. Request everyone to pray for his speedy recovery and respect the family’s right to privacy.” Sunny, along with his sons Karan and Rajveer, visited the hospital on November 10.
Family members, including Hema Malini, have been by Dharmendra’s side throughout. Bollywood stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Govinda also visited to offer support.
Background on the Rumors
The false reports surged on November 10-11, 2025, with some national news channels and social media accounts prematurely announcing Dharmendra’s death at age 89, just weeks before his 90th birthday in December. This led to widespread panic among fans, tributes from figures like Javed Akhtar, and a flood of concerned messages. However, sources close to the family clarified that Dharmendra was admitted for routine check-ups that escalated due to breathing issues, but he remains under observation and improving.
Hema Malini had shared a positive update on Instagram the previous evening: “I thank everyone for their concern about Dharam ji who is in hospital for observation. He is being continuously monitored and we are all with him. I request you all to pray for his welfare and speedy recovery.”
Industry and Fan Reactions
The Bollywood fraternity has rallied in support:
- Riteish Deshmukh: “I’m praying for Dharmendra sir’s health. I want that he gets well as soon as possible.”
- Bharti Singh: Expressed wishes for a quick recovery during a paparazzi interaction.
Fans on X have echoed calls to curb fake news, with posts like: “Dharmendra ji is ALIVE 🙏🏻 Hema Malini ji and Esha Deol ji have confirmed that the DEATH RUMOURS are completely FALSE.” Many criticized Indian media’s rush for sensationalism, labeling it “disrespectful and cruel.”
Dharmendra, a Padma Bhushan awardee with over 300 films to his credit (including classics like Sholay and Deewaar), continues to inspire generations. As of now, the family requests privacy—no further updates have been shared, but the focus is on his recovery. Let’s join in sending positive vibes to the Deol family.