Bollywood star Dharmendra has died in the Indian city of Mumbai at the age of 89.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the actor, saying his passing marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.

Dharmendra, who often described himself as a simple man, commanded extraordinary affection and loyalty from his tens of millions of fans.

Best known as Veeru, the lovable petty criminal in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay, he appeared in over 300 films, many hits, captivating audiences for decades.

Songs featuring him topped the charts, and his romance and marriage with Hema Malini made headlines.

Dubbed the original He-Man of Bollywood and Garam (hot) Dharam, the actor often made it to global lists of most handsome men in his heyday, and female fans were known to sleep with his photographs under their pillows.

Bollywood stars weren't immune to his charms either - over the years actress Madhuri Dixit described him as one of the most handsome people I have seen on screen, superstar Salman Khan said Dharmendra was the most beautiful looking man, and actress Jaya Bachchan called him a Greek God.

Dharmendra always said he was embarrassed by talk of his good looks and attributed it to nature, my parents and my genes.

Born on 8 December 1935 in Nasrali village in Punjab's Ludhiana district in a middle-class Jatt-Sikh family, he was named Dharam Singh Deol by his schoolteacher father.

In a 2018 interview with BBC Hindi, he shared that his father wanted him to study, but he fell in love with films early on and wanted to be a hero.

After winning an All India Talent Contest, he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) and debuted with Dil Bhi Tera, Hum Bhi Tere in 1960.

Dharmendra rose to fame with Bimal Roy's 1963 film Bandini, later becoming a romantic hero and action star with hits like Phool Aur Patthar and Mera Gaon Mera Desh.

He was also praised for his roles in comedies, showcasing his impeccable timing in films such as Chupke Chupke.

Throughout his career, he had significant success opposite actress Hema Malini, whom he married in 1980 amidst much media speculation.

In addition to his film career, Dharmendra served as a BJP MP from Bikaner from 2005 to 2009 but later confessed politics was not for him.

Even in his later years, he remained active in the industry, appearing in films alongside his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol and connecting with fans on social media.

Dharmendra's most memorable role, however, will always be as Veeru in Sholay, a film that is considered a cultural phenomenon. He cherished this role, stating he never felt he had done better work than in his portrayal of Veeru.

Despite many accolades, including the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and the Padma Bhushan, Dharmendra remarked he never desired to be the top star, instead valuing the love of his fans above all.