Dhalsim is a fictional character from the Street Fighter series who first appeared in Street Fighter II: The World Warrior in 1991. Hailing from Kerala, India, he is a village priest and a master of a mysterious yoga-based fighting style. His dedication to yoga has granted him incredible abilities, including the power to stretch his arms, legs, and even his neck to great lengths, as well as to breathe fire and teleport.

In terms of personality, Dhalsim is a stoic, self-disciplined, and deeply humble individual. He is a committed pacifist who adheres to a philosophy of non-violence, believing that one should never hurt more than necessary and never kill an opponent, regardless of how evil they may be. This pacifism is a source of constant inner conflict, as he frequently questions whether using his formidable powers for fighting is morally correct. Despite his serious and stern demeanor when required, he is also an extremely altruistic and loving family man, showing great affection for his wife and son.

Dhalsim's primary motivation for fighting is not personal glory but the desperate need to save his impoverished village and its people. He enters the World Warrior tournaments to raise money for food, medicine, and other necessities, seeing it as a necessary sacrifice of his beliefs for the greater good. In the Street Fighter IV storyline, he even enters a tournament organized by the criminal syndicate S.I.N. to free the flow of water to his village after they built a dam upstream. He fights not out of aggression, but as a reluctant champion for the poor and oppressed.

Within the series' narrative, Dhalsim plays a crucial role as a wise mentor and a force for spiritual guidance. He is responsible for making the assassin Cammy White self-aware, thereby freeing her from the mind control of the villainous M. Bison. He also aids Ryu in his journey, helping him understand the darkness within his own soul. His key relationships include his wife, Sally (also named Sari in some sources), and his son, Datta. Notably, Datta is a pen pal with Amy, the daughter of Guile, linking Dhalsim to another major character in the series. He also shares a friendship with the character Sagat, even helping him train to control his emotions.

Over the course of the series, Dhalsim's character has shown consistent development, always centered on his internal moral struggle. He retires from fighting after the second World Warrior tournament, choosing to live peacefully with his family, but he cannot ignore the suffering of others and continues to roam the world, offering help where it is needed. His physical appearance has also evolved, most notably in Street Fighter V where he was given a significant redesign, appearing older with a full beard and a turban that he now wears even during battles.

Dhalsim's notable abilities are all derived from his mastery of yoga. His signature technique is the ability to stretch his limbs for long-range attacks, making him the original zoning fighter in competitive gaming. He can also levitate and teleport using techniques like Yoga Teleport. His fire-based attacks include the projectile Yoga Fire, the close-range Yoga Flame, the anti-air Yoga Blast, and powerful super combos like the multi-hitting Yoga Inferno and the large fireball Yoga Catastrophe. His physical appearance includes unique traits such as pupil-less eyes, a thin and emaciated waist, and a necklace of skulls, which are said to belong to village children who died in a plague.