outpouring

ICONIC “He-Man” of Bollywood, Dharmendra, has died aged 89 as India’s Prime Minister leads tributes for the much-loved star.

Better known as Veeru, the star appeared in over 300 films, including playing a petty criminal in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay.

Dharmendra was one of Indian cinemas most popular stars whose fame skyrocketed in the 1970s and 1980s making him one of the defining figures in Bollywood.

The star, who would have turned 90 in December, had been in and out of a hospital in the financial capital, Mumbai, over the past few weeks.

A senior police official who had spoken to Dharmendra’s doctor confirmed the death on condition of anonymity. 

Tributes have since poured in for the “original” it-man of Bollywood, with India‘s PM leading the charge.

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In a heartbreaking statement, Narendra Modi said today “marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.”

And filmmaker Karan Johar, who worked with the star in his last film before his death, described him as the “most enigmatic person on screen.”

He was “incredibly handsome” and was “so loved by everyone in our industry,” he said.

Johar added: “It is an end of an era….. a massive mega star… the embodiment of a HERO in mainstream cinema… incredibly handsome and the most enigmatic screen presence.

“He is and will always be a bonafide Legend of Indian Cinema… defining and richly present in the pages of cinema history … but mostly he was the best human being… he was so loved by everyone in our industry.”

Meanwhile, filmmaker Madhu Bhandarkar remembered the start for being “vibrant” and “always full of humour.”

In an emotional post, he said: “Meanwhile, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar took to X and wrote, “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary Dharmendra ji, the real He-Man of Indian cinema.

“I had the privilege of meeting him many times, he was always vibrant & full of humor. His remarkable contributions mark the end of an era in Indian cinema and will be eternally remembered. Om Shanti.”

The iconic film personality was known for bringing charm to people’s screen and “depth” to every role he played.

He shot to fame following his performance in Sholay (1975) Bollywoods take on the Spaghetti Western and regarded as one of Indias greatest films.

And his roles in other Hindi-language hits, from the romantic comedy Chupke Chupke (1975) to the action drama Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), made him one of the most recognizable film faces from that era.

But it was his performance in Bollywood classic Sholay that truly cemented his stardom.

In 1980, he married actress Hema Malini after shooting more than two dozen films together and the pair quickly became one of India’s most talked about couple.

But the relationship was marred with scandal as Dharmendra was still married to Prakash Kaur – who he went on to have four children with, including two who would follow in his acting footsteps Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol.

Despite his global success, he steered clear of the rat race, insisting he never wanted to peak in the industry.

He previously said: “I never asked for too much money, and fame is transient. All I ever wanted was people’s love.

“I came here just for this love. Everyone loves Dharmendra and I am grateful for that.”

In 2012, Dharmendra was awarded the Padma Bhushan, Indias third-highest civilian honor, in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema.

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He also had a brief sting in politics, serving in Parliament for Modi’s BJP party from 2004 to 2009.

Dharmendra is survived by his wives, children and grandchildren.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla announced Tuesday that he will not run for California governor next year, ending months of speculation about the possibility of the Democrat vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“It is with a full heart and even more commitment than ever that I am choosing to not run for governor of California next year,” Padilla told reporters outside his Senate office in Washington.

Padilla instead said he will focus on countering President Trump’s agenda in Congress, where Democrats are currently on the minority in both the House and Senate, but hope to regain some political clout after the 2026 midterm elections.

“I choose not just to stay in the Senate. I choose to stay in this fight because the constitution is worth fighting for. Our fundamental rights are worth fighting for. Our core values are worth fighting for. The American dream is worth fighting for,” he said.

Padilla said his decision was influenced by his belief that under President Trump, “these are not normal times.”

“We deserve better than this,” he said.

Many contenders, no clear favorite

Padilla’s decision to bow out of the 2026 governor’s race will leave a prominent name out of an already crowded contest with many contenders but not a clear favorite.

For much of the year, the field was essentially frozen in place as former Vice President Kamala Harris debated whether she would run, with many donors and major endorsers staying out of the game. Harris said at the end of July that she wouldn’t run. But another potential candidate — billionaire developer Rick Caruso — remains a question mark.

Caruso said Monday night that he was still considering running for either governor or Los Angeles mayor, and will decide in the next few weeks.

“It’s a really tough decision,” Caruso said. “Within a few weeks or so, or something like that, I’ll probably have a decision made. It’s a big topic of discussion in the house with my kids and my wife.”

Major Democratic candidates include former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, current California Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former state Controller Betty Yee and wealthy businessman Stephen Cloobeck. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton are the most prominent Republicans running.

Amid fire recovery aftermath, immigration raids and a high-octane redistricting battle, California voters have yet to turn their attention to next year’s gubernatorial matchup, despite the vast power Newsom’s successor will wield. California is now the world’s fourth-largest economy, and policy decisions in the Golden State often have global repercussions. Newsom is nearing the end of his second and final term.

Recent polling shows the contest as wide open, with nearly 4 in 10 voters surveyed saying they are undecided, though Porter had a slight edge as the top choice in the poll. She and Bianco were the only candidates whose support cracked the double digits.

Candidates still have months to file their paperwork before the June 2 primary to replace Newsom.

June incident brought attention

Known for soft-spoken confidence and a lack of bombast, Padilla’s public profile soared in June after he found himself cuffed by federal agents, at the center of a staggering viral moment during a news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Despite identifying himself, Padilla was tackled after trying to interrupt Noem with a question. The manhandling of California’s senior senator was filmed by a staffer and broadcast around the world, provoking searing and widespread condemnation.

Days later, Vice President JD Vance joked about the incident and referred to Padilla — his former Senate colleague — as “Jose Padilla,” a misnaming that Padilla suggested was intentional and others characterized as racist.

The event put Padilla on the national spotlight and rumors of Padilla’s interest in the gubernatorial race ignited in late August.

Padilla told reporters on Tuesday that he received an “outpouring of encouragement and offers of support for the idea” of his candidacy and that he had “taken it to heart”

Alongside his wife, Angela, the senator said he also heard from many people urging him to keep his fight going in Washington.

“Countless Californians have urged me to do everything i could to protect California and the American Dream from a vindictive president who seems hell bent on raising costs for working families, rolling back environmental protections, cutting access to healthcare, jeopardizing reproductive rights and more,” he said.

Padilla said he had listened.

“I will continue to thank them and honor their support by continuing to work together for a better future,” he said.

Ceballos reported from Washington, Wick from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Noah Goldberg, in Los Angeles, contributed to this report.