After making his film debut with Subhadra Kalyana (1972), he received recognition for his performance in Puttanna Kanagal's Paduvaaralli Pandavaru (1978).

[1] Dheerendra Gopal was noticed at a young age by Gubbi Veeranna.

Gubbi Veeranna saw him solo act at a school and was impressed with his performance and invited him to be part of his company.

The young Gopal donned the main role in Yechchama Nayaka and never looked back thereafter.

He was survived by his wife Sunandamma, daughter Vidyavathi and two sons, Narendra Babu and Sudheendra.