You want one name, but the truth hangs on one word: “oldest.” Do you mean oldest living? Oldest still acting? Or the oldest anyone from Bollywood has ever lived to be? Here’s the fast, no‑nonsense answer as of September 2025, plus a clean way to fact‑check it yourself.
- TL;DR: For “oldest actor in Bollywood” as of September 2025, the oldest widely recognized living male actor with major Hindi film credits is Prem Chopra (born 23 Sept 1935).
- Oldest living Bollywood legend still taking on roles: Dharmendra (born 8 Dec 1935); he appeared as recently as 2023 and continues to be active.
- All‑time longevity record among Bollywood performers: Zohra Sehgal (1912-2014), who reached 102.
- If you include veteran actresses, Waheeda Rehman (born 3 Feb 1936) and Mala Sinha (born 11 Nov 1936) are among the oldest living icons.
- Always verify with recent birthdays, mainstream obituaries, and official award pages; dates change, headlines don’t.
What “oldest actor in Bollywood” means in 2025
When someone asks this, they usually want one of three things. The nuance matters, because the top name changes with the lens you choose.
1) Oldest living Bollywood actor (male). This usually surfaces veterans like Prem Chopra and Dharmendra because they’re the best‑known names still with us from the 1960s-70s wave. Their ages are public, and big Hindi outlets cover their birthdays each year.
2) Oldest living Bollywood star still working. Different question. Prem Chopra doesn’t work often now, while Dharmendra has recent credits (and is game for cameos). If your goal is “Who’s the oldest still showing up on screen now and then?”, Dharmendra is the practical answer.
3) Oldest ever associated with Bollywood. That crown goes to Zohra Sehgal. She started with dance and theatre before becoming the heartbeat of countless Hindi films and shows. She lived to 102. If your question is about longevity records, she’s the benchmark.
Small but useful detail: “Actor” is increasingly used as gender‑neutral, though many still hear “male.” If you meant the oldest living female star with major Hindi film credits, Waheeda Rehman and Mala Sinha are among the top names today.
Who tops the list right now
Here’s a snapshot of the oldest living, widely recognized Bollywood performers as of September 2025. Ages shift by the day, so use the verification steps in the next section if you’re publishing or citing this anywhere formal.
| Name | Born | Age (as of Sept 16, 2025) | Known for | Current status (living/active) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prem Chopra | 23 Sept 1935 | 89 (turns 90 in a week) | Iconic villain roles across the 1960s-90s | Living; works rarely |
| Dharmendra | 8 Dec 1935 | 89 | Sholay, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) | Living; still open to roles/appearances |
| Waheeda Rehman | 3 Feb 1936 | 89 | Guide, Pyaasa; Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2023) | Living; selective appearances |
| Mala Sinha | 11 Nov 1936 | 88 | Anpadh, Himalay Ki God Mein | Living; retired |
| Biswajit Chatterjee | 14 Dec 1936 | 88 | Bees Saal Baad, Kohraa | Living; occasional work |
| Manoj Kumar | 24 July 1937 | 88 | Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim | Living; retired |
| Asrani | 1 Jan 1941 | 84 | Sholay, countless comedies | Living; occasional appearances |
| Jeetendra | 7 Apr 1942 | 83 | Parichay, Himmatwala | Living; retired from acting |
| Amitabh Bachchan | 11 Oct 1942 | 82 (turns 83 next month) | Deewaar, Piku, Pink; Kaun Banega Crorepati host | Living; very active |
| Asha Parekh | 2 Oct 1942 | 82 | Teesri Manzil, Kati Patang | Living; public appearances |
Notes you might care about:
- Dates come from public bios (IMDb profiles, film magazines like Filmfare/Cine Blitz, and official award citations). If a birthday is disputed, I side with the most consistently reported date across mainstream outlets.
- “Active” means recent onscreen work or public confirmation of interest in new roles, not daily shooting schedules.
All‑time longevity yardsticks, for context:
- Zohra Sehgal (1912-2014): reached 102; appeared in films from Neecha Nagar to Dil Se.. to Cheeni Kum.
- Dilip Kumar (1922-2021): 98; among the most celebrated leading men in Hindi cinema.
- A. K. Hangal (1914-2012): 97; staple of character roles.
- Pran (1920-2013): 93; legendary screen villain and character actor.
If your aim is pub‑quiz accuracy, a safe, short answer right now is: “Prem Chopra is the oldest living Bollywood actor most people will recognize; if you mean oldest still working, it’s Dharmendra; longest lived ever is Zohra Sehgal at 102.”
How to verify an actor’s age without getting burned
Age claims get messy fast-old profiles, fan‑edited pages, and recycled birthday tweets can trap you. Here’s a simple way to check, same method I use before I let my kid repeat Bollywood trivia at school.
- Start with two independent mainstream sources. Look up the birth date in a respected film magazine profile (e.g., Filmfare or The Hindu’s film pages) and a major database (IMDb, Cinestaan, or an official festival bio).
- Check the latest birthday coverage. Did a major outlet mark their last birthday this year with the same date and age? If yes, that aligns the math.
- Scan official honors. Padma awards, National Film Awards, and Dadasaheb Phalke Award citations often include the birth year. These are vetted.
- Confirm life status with obituaries or family statements. If there’s any doubt, search for obituaries from credible newspapers. No obit? See recent public appearances or posts from verified family accounts.
- Do the date math yourself. Today (Sept 16, 2025), did they already have their birthday this year? Adjust age accordingly. Example: born in December 1935 → still 89 until December 2025.
Quick checklist you can screenshot:
- Two mainstream bios match the date and year
- Recent birthday coverage confirms age this year
- No credible obituary contradicts “living” status
- Award citations or festival pages align with the birth year
- Age math done for this exact month/day
Common pitfalls:
- Ages rounded up early. Fans celebrate “90th” during the birthday month even if the day hasn’t arrived. Be exact.
- Secondary sources copying each other. Five blogs repeating the same mistake doesn’t make it right. Find a primary profile or official note.
- Mixing “living” with “active.” Someone may be retired but alive. If the question is “still acting,” dig for the last credited role with a year.
Pro tip: If you’re writing something public, add “as of [month year]” once. It signals you checked the latest and know the answer can change.
Quick answers to your follow‑ups
These are the questions people usually ask right after the main one. Short, clean answers so you can move on with your day.
- Who is the oldest living male actor in Bollywood right now? Prem Chopra (born 23 Sept 1935). He’s older than Dharmendra by about two and a half months.
- Who is the oldest Bollywood actor still working? Dharmendra. He had a major role in 2023 and stays open to cameos and special appearances.
- Who is the oldest living Bollywood actress? Among the most famous living veterans: Waheeda Rehman (born 3 Feb 1936) and Mala Sinha (born 11 Nov 1936). Both are in their late 80s.
- Who lived the longest among Bollywood performers? Zohra Sehgal reached 102. She’s the clearest longevity record connected to Hindi cinema.
- Is Amitabh Bachchan the oldest? No. He’s 82 right now (turns 83 next month). A legend, yes. The oldest, no.
- Does “Bollywood” include actors who mainly worked in other Indian languages? If they did notable Hindi films too (like Biswajit Chatterjee), they’re often counted in these lists. If you want Hindi‑only, just filter the table by “Known for” and toss non‑Hindi heavy careers.
- Why do different sites show different ages? Old bios, copy‑paste errors, and birthday posts without the year. Use the verification checklist above.
If you’re here to settle a family debate (been there), your safest short line is: “Prem Chopra is the oldest living Bollywood actor; Dharmendra is the oldest still taking roles; longest lived ever is Zohra Sehgal.” That covers 99% of arguments at dinner.
One last bit of context. The “oldest” answer is a moving target. People age, new appearances happen, and sadly, we lose legends. If you’re reading this a few months from now, run the age check steps. It takes two minutes, and you’ll never be caught quoting an out‑of‑date fact in the group chat again.
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