Bollywood star Dharmendra has died in the Indian city of Mumbai at the age of 89,  BBC reported.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the actor, saying his passing "marks the end of an era in Indian cinema".

Dharmendra, who often described himself as "a simple man", commanded extraordinary affection and loyalty from his tens of millions of fans.

Best known as Veeru, the lovable petty criminal in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay, he appeared in over 300 films, many hits, captivating audiences for decades, according to BBC.