Bollywood is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic stars, Dharmendra, who passed away on 24 November 2025 at the age of 89. Known as the ‘He-Man’ of Hindi cinema, his death has sparked conversations about his long and glorious career and about the contemporaries who shared his era. Among them is Shatrughan Sinha, another towering personality of Indian cinema and politics. Many fans have been curious about how the two legends compared in age, given their overlapping presence on screen.
Birthdays and age difference
Dharmendra was born on 8 December 1935, while Shatrughan Sinha was born on 15 July 1946. This places Dharmendra almost 10 years and 7 months older than Sinha. Though they belonged to slightly different generations, their careers intersected during some of Bollywood’s most exciting decades. Dharmendra had already established himself as a leading action hero by the late 1960s, while Sinha entered the industry a little later and rose to stardom with his trademark baritone and bold dialogue delivery.
What that age gap meant in Bollywood
The age difference shaped their professional journeys in subtle but important ways. Dharmendra became a symbol of strength, romance and heroism long before Sinha arrived on the big screen. Yet when Sinha did rise to fame, he did so with a unique personality that allowed him to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with established stars like Dharmendra.
Despite their age gap, the two actors appeared together in several films, sharing memorable moments both on and off screen. Their interactions often reflected warmth, humour and mutual admiration. Dharmendra’s passing has prompted fans to look back at this relationship, one defined not just by cinema, but by respect between two stalwarts of different generations.
As tributes continue to pour in, Dharmendra’s contribution and his connection to fellow legends like Shatrughan Sinha highlight the lasting impact he leaves behind on Indian cinema.
