Dharmendra Holds One Record In Bollywood; Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan Have Not Been Able To Break It

The legend Dharmendra is no more. The actor breathed his last today, November 24, 2025. He was 89, 15 days short of his 90th birthday. With his death, Hindi cinema has lost a luminary and the curtains to an era have come down. However, Dharmendra holds a record that no Bollywood superstar – not even Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan has been able to break. Even as tributes keep pouring in for the star, not many know that with over 300 films to his credit, Dharmendra remains the most successful leading man in the history of Hindi cinema.Having debuted in the 1960s, after being discovered by Filmfare in a talent hunt, Dharmendra was already married and with kids when he started his journey in Bollywood. While he debuted in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera

Hum Bhi Tere. He first became popular in the mid-1960s through films Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Phool Aur Patthar and Aaye Din Bahar Ke. What kept him relevant was his chameleon-like ability to change with evolving trends. From a suave romantic hero to a rugged He-Man of Hindi cinema, Dharmendra had done it all.

What is interesting to note also, is that Dharmendra, in his long and illustrious career delivered more hits than any other actor.Also Read: Remembering Dharmendra: The Eternal He-Man Of Bollywood Dharmendra starred in almost 300 films of which 94 were considered successful, and 74 earned the label of certified hits. His filmography boasts 7 blockbusters and 13 superhits, including Sholay, a film that changed the course Indian cinema was taking with its machismo and Western influence.For the unversed, Amitabh Bachchan has delivered 56 hits in his career, while Salman Khan has given 38 hits. Shah Rukh Khan has seen 34 hits at the box office, while Aamir Khan has been a part of 20 hits. Even stars such as Mithun Chakraborty, Rajesh Khanna and others have not been able to replicate the success rate of Dharmendra. One of the best looking men in Indian cinema, Dharmendra did it all with ease. From serenading Saira Banu, Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore in films to playing the strong action hero in nationalistic films to dotting his roles with a natural comedy – thus connecting with generations – his career is an example of what sheer audience love can do. And he saw it all, from the rise of the angry young man in Amitabh Bachchan to the global stardom of the Khans to films of today with modern sensibilities. Dharmendra not only saw the change, but evolved with each trend, seamlessly settling into any genre he was given.Also Read: DYK Dharmendra Was A Filmfare Discovery? The Rest They Say, Is HistoryEven in his eighties, Dharmendra managed to change the game with his viral lip-lock with Shabana Azmi in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahanii. He appeared in the 2024 sci-fi romance Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya alongside Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon and will not be seen posthumously in his final film, Sriram Raghavan’s war drama Ikkis, set to release on December 25, 2025.But even now, in a world dotted with superstars and megastars no one has yet broken Dharmendra’s most incredible record.