By Kavita Mistry 
Actor Dharmendra’s death has left an irreplaceable void in the film industry. Beyond his legendary on-screen presence, he was a devoted father and grandfather. A couple of years ago, in a conversation with Filmfare, Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s daughter Esha Deol reflected on the profound influence her father has had on her.
The actress also forayed into the action genre with Hunter Tootega Nahi Todega and Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. It goes without saying that the actress liked this genre and her biggest inspiration was her father, also known as the He-Man of Bollywood. Talking about the same, Esha continued, “I grew up with Dharmendra, also known as the He Man. I’ve seen all of his films. But aside from that, I’ve always been an athlete. I’m also a big fan of Sylvester Stallone. The only thing I haven’t done is get his name and photo tattooed on my hand. So I enjoy watching these manly men on screen.”
Dharmendra passed away on November 24 at the age of 89 at his residence in Juhu. He will be posthumously seen in the film Ikkis, starring Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, Agastya Nanda in the lead. The actor’s passing leaves behind an unmatched legacy of over six decades.