Dharmendra Death Hoax: Esha Deol, Hema Malini slam media for spreading 'false news', legendary actor 'is recovering'

Social media was thrown into a frenzy on Monday evening following a shocking rumour about the alleged demise of Bollywood’s iconic “He-Man,” Dharmendra. By Tuesday morning, unverified reports claiming that the veteran actor had “passed away at 89” began circulating widely across several online portals and even some mainstream news channels. However, the rumours were swiftly dismissed by the actor’s family, who confirmed that Dharmendra is very much alive and “recovering” under medical care.

Related Story: Dharmendra stable amid death hoax: Hema Malini, Sunny Deol, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan visit veteran actor

Esha Deol Issues a Strong Clarification

Dharmendra’s daughter, actress Esha Deol, was among the first to react strongly to the fake news.

Taking to Instagram, she clarified, "THE MEDIA SEEMS TO BE IN OVERDRIVE AND SPREADING FALSE NEWS. MY FATHER IS STABLE & RECOVERING." (sic)

She further urged everyone to respect the family’s privacy, adding, "WE REQUEST EVERYONE TO GIVE OUR FAMILY PRIVACY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS FOR PAPAS SPEEDY RECOVERY. ESHA DEOL." (sic) 

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Hema Malini Calls Out 'Irresponsible' Reporting Following Esha’s statement, veteran actress and Dharmendra’s wife, Hema Malini, also expressed her dismay on X (formerly Twitter).

Condemning the spread of false information, she wrote, "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." (sic)

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

Both the posts, quickly went viral, with fans and industry colleagues expressing relief and condemning the irresponsible spread of misinformation.

Dharmendra’s Health Update: ‘Stable and Recovering’

According to earlier reports, Sholay’s beloved Veeru had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after he reportedly experienced breathlessness.

Must Read: Dharmendra put on ventilator? Sunny Deol's team clarifies on veteran star's health condition

As of now, the 89-year-old actor is reportedly recovering well and remains under medical supervision, while his family has requested privacy during this time. Fans across the world continue to send prayers and heartfelt wishes to the veteran star, whose enduring charm, resilience, and contribution to Indian cinema remain unmatched.