Mumbai, Nov 24 : As Bollywood star Dharmendra passed away aged 89 on Monday, actor Pulkit Samrat mourned the loss of the veteran actor and said that he â??held up entire generations with his courage, charm and goodnessâ??.

Pulkit took to Instagram, where he shared a monochrome picture of the star and wrote: â?? There are actorsâ?¦ and then there are pillars!! Dharam ji held up entire generations with his courage, charm and goodness!!â??

He said that cinema has lost a â??father figure.â??

â??Today..cinema loses a father figureâ?¦! We grew up watching him punch villains, charm the world and protect the ones he loved.. But the real hero was always the man behind the legend!! Dharam ji, thank you for the goodness you carried so effortlessly.. The industry feels emptier today. #RIP.â??

Dharmendra, who passed away in Mumbai, will posthumously be seen in 'Ikkis', directed by ace director Sriram Raghavan.

The octogenarian made his debut with 1960 film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. He first gained popularity in the mid-1960s for films such as Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Phool Aur Patthar, and Aaye Din Bahar Ke.

He starred in several successful Hindi films from the late-1960s to the 1980s, such as Ankhen, Shikar, Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Jeevan Mrityu, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Seeta Aur Geeta, Raja Jani, Jugnu, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Dost, Sholay, Pratiggya, Charas, Dharam Veer, Chacha Bhatija, Ghulami, Hukumat, Aag Hi Aag, Elaan-E-Jung, Tahalka, Anpadh, Bandini, Haqeeqat, Anupama, Mamta, Majhli Didi, Satyakam, Naya Zamana, Samadhi, Resham Ki Dori, Chupke Chupke, Dillagi, The Burning Train, Ghazab, Do Dishayen and Hathyar.

In the late 1990s, he appeared in character roles in several successful and acclaimed films, such as Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Life in a... Metro, Apne, Johnny Gaddaar, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya.

/IANS