Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra passed away on Monday morning in Mumbai at the age of 89, police sources at the cremation ground confirmed to The Indian Express. The veteran actor, who had worked in over 300 films over his storied career, had been ailing for a month. His last rites were conducted at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai’s Vile Parle. His family chose to give the actor a quiet, private farewell with only his close friends present during the last rites. Dharmendra would have turned 90 on December 8 this year.
Among his Bollywood colleagues who paid tribute to him included Sholay co-star Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh and wife Deepika Padukone, Govinda and Sunjay Dutt. Hundreds of fans assembled outside the crematorium as the news of Dharmendra’s death spread. Police had to eventually close the doors of the crematorium. People could be seen sobbing outside, holding the photos of the actor.
Dharmendra was hospitalised in October for a health check-up after complaining of breathlessness. His team had shared that he was doing well and had chosen to extend his stay at the hospital so that he could undergo proper medical screening. Earlier this year, he underwent an eye graft surgery (corneal transplantation).
An outsider who came from a village in Punjab and made Hindi cinema his own, acting in over 300 films which included both mainstream blockbusters and underrated gems, Dharmendra was among those few actors whose stardom was not impacted by the rise of Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. As he often said, he received few awards in his career but the massive love of his fans more than made up for it. He balanced Sholay — arguably the most iconic Hindi film over decades — with a Satyakam; audience will always remember his comic turn in Chupke Chupke. His career spanned decades and generations.
Dharmendra’s story is the stuff dreams, and films, are made of. Born Dharmendra Deol, he was born to a school teacher in the Sahnewal village of Ludhiana district, Punjab in 1935. His film ambitions took off after he won a national talent contest organised by a film magazine. He made his debut in Hindi films in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. The film went unnoticed and it was only next year that he delivered his first success, Shola Aur Shabnam. He followed it up with Mohan Kumar’s Anpadh (1962), and Bimal Roy’s Bandini (1963), which won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.
Dharmendra came to be known as the charming, handsome man who could deliver captivating performances on screen. Phool Aur Patthar marked his first action role, and it was his action-hero image that eventually gave him the title of the ‘He-Man of Bollywood’.
The 1970s saw him in some of his most popular roles like Jeevan Mrityu, Tum Haseen Mai Jawan, Guddi, Yaadon Ki Baraat, Black Mail, Pratigya, Chupke Chupke, Sholay, Dream Girl, Dharam Veer, Seeta Aur Geeta, Dream Girl, The Burning Train among others. His role of Veeru in Sholay became his most famous.
The official social media page of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), 𝕏 to be precise, has been attacked by suspected hackers.
Naija News reports that the DHQ confirmed the development in a statement made public on Saturday, August 15, by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. General Samaila Uba.
He said the body has hence treated the incident as a cybersecurity matter, with technical measures activated to secure the account.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, the media and all stakeholders that it has detected an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
“The incident is currently being treated as a cybersecurity matter, and appropriate technical measures have been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access,” the statement noted.
The DHQ urged members of the public to disregard any publication from the account at the moment while ensuring that efforts were ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“The Defence Headquarters assures the public that efforts are ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“Consequently, members of the public are advised to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that may be posted from the account during this period,” he said.
Uba stressed the DHQ’s committment to maintaining high standards of information security and ensuring that Nigerians continued to receive accurate, timely and credible information on the activities and operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“We appreciate the understanding and vigilance of the public and will provide further updates as necessary,” he said.
He further urged Nigerians to henceforth check its verified accounts on other platforms, including Facebook under the name “Defence Headquarters Nigeria,” Instagram at @defenceheadquarters and its WhatsApp Channel, Defence Headquarters Nigeria for reliable information.
At least seven workers were killed and 13 injured following a landslide that sent water and debris gushing into a tunnel under construction in north India, officials said Friday.
The incident occurred late Thursday in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where workers were constructing a tunnel for a state-run hydropower project.
At least three workers are still missing, while 19 were rescued from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation site, the State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.
Videos shared by local authorities showed rescue workers equipped with head-mounted torches using makeshift rafts to reach the flooded section of the tunnel.
Uttarakhand has been battered by heavy monsoon rains in recent days.
Accidents on large construction sites are common in India, but ecologists say excessive development projects have led to more disasters in the fragile Himalayan areas.
Last month, 20 people working in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project were killed in the remote northeastern state of Sikkim.
In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside a tunnel that collapsed in Uttarakhand.
Hundreds of people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the start of the annual monsoon season in June.
Experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing the frequency, severity, and impact of the disasters.
The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union has honoured the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, with the ‘Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award’, as part of activities marking its 50th anniversary
RATTAWU conferred the award on Ajayi on Thursday at his office, when the National President of the group, Emeka Kalu, led members to a media/security-critical engagement and strategic partnership meeting for national development in Abuja.
Kalu praised the appointment of Ajayi in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as putting “a round peg in a round hole.”
He added that the award was an initiative of the union designed to recognise individuals and institutions that had made outstanding contributions to national development, security, democracy, culture and the growth of Nigeria.
He said, “Your appointment by Mr President demonstrates the importance of placing capable Nigerians with integrity and professional competence in strategic positions of national responsibility.
“The role of the DSS in protecting Nigeria’s national interests, gathering critical intelligence and supporting national security cannot be overemphasised.
“Particularly now that this country is confronted with complex security and emerging technological challenges, appointments like yours are the best ever done by Mr President.
“That is why this union decided to honour you with the Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award.”
Responding, the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the leadership of RATTAWU for the honour.
Ajayi described the recognition as a significant gesture that would further encourage him and the service to remain committed to their responsibilities to the nation.
