Dharmendra: Bollywood's Real Macho-Man

Six decades ago, an unknown tubewell mechanic from Sahnewal (Ludhiana) set out on a journey to the ‘City of Dreams’ to realise his ambition of becoming a hero in the Bollywood. He is none other than “Punjab da Sher Puttar” Dharmendra. He is a born entertainer, acting is not a profession for him but it’s his beloved. A director's actor, he could don a dhoti with the same ease with which he could sport a Roman Toga, he could be smoldering in a tuxedo and set a million hearts ablaze. The way his face emotes expressions is unparalleled and his sensitive eyes create an intriguing romance wooing his heroines. Simply dashing Dharmendra with indelible romantic aura, remains true to his image of the lovable prince charming.

He blasted the silver screen and the movie halls were drowned in a thousand whistles merely on his entry. He took rapid strides to become the poster boy for the tendon. He is known as the most handsome actor to have ever walked the soil of Indian showbiz. A top draw at the box office, his towering talent got overlooked because the industry didn't know how to deal with his Greek god looks. He connects with the world through social media and is a regular twitter, sharing glimpses from his old movies.

During his initial career years, he countered the mercurial rise of Shammi Kapoor and then contended with Rajendra (Jubilee) Kumar. In 1970s, he lived and thrived under the shadow of the Rajesh Khanna phenomenon. The marquee crown continue to elude him with the entry of angry young man Amitabh Bachchan. But Dharmendra was the rock that wouldn’t budge and he remained industry’s most favourite leading man. He earned the epithet of ‘bankable star’ because his films earned the proverbial big bucks.

Dharminder Singh Deol (Dharmendra) was born to a school teacher Kewal Krishan Singh Deol and Satwant Kaur in Nasrali village, (District Ludhiana, Punjab) on December 8, 1935. He received his early education from Government School, Lalton Kalan (Ludhiana) and did his intermediate from Ramgarhia College, Phagwara. He was fascinated by the films right from his childhood. As class IX student, he saw his first film “Shaheed” (1948) and he was spell-bound. As an adolescent, he got addicted to films, often travelling miles to watch Suraiya’s “Dillagi” (1949) many times.

He was a star-struck teenager who devoured film magazines and greatly admired actors like Motilal and Dilip Kumar. He would often try to copy these actors while looking himself in front of the mirror. He came across an advertisement for ‘Film Talent Hunt’ in the fortnightly Filmfare. The curious Dharmendra rushed to Malerkotla to get his portfolio done by Jaan Mohammed of John & Sons. The august panel comprising of Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt selected the debonair Dharmendra with top rank. In 1958, he came to the Mayanagri (Bombay) with the starry eyes to get hero’s role on a platter but no offers came his way.

He approached producer S.Mukherjee of Filmistan, who curtly responded that they wanted an actor not a football player. He and his contemporaries Manoj Kumar and Shashi Kapoor used to sit on a bench in the studios and wait endlessly for a much needed break. Frustrated, Dharmendra decided to return to Ludhiana, but then the lady luck smiled on him. With the persistent efforts of Filmfare editor L.P. Rao, he got a second lead role in Arjun Hingorani's film 'Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere' (1960) and was paid a signing amount of Rupees Fifty One.

During the preview show of the film, the financiers disapproved Dharmendra and advised the producer to replace him with an established actor. However, director Arjun Hingorani stuck to his guns. Dharmendra started as a nervous and overtly concerned actor playing the role of an unemployed youth Ashok, who advertised for Cavander cigarettes on busy streets by wearing high stilts and spent his nights on the footpath. Ironically, no body recognized Dharmendra at the premiere of his first movie and he returned home by a local train. This film tanked at the box-office and he was again on the roads.

Once again, Mr. Rao came to his rescue and got him role in Bimal Roy's “Bandini” (1963). Simultaneously, his first signed film “Shola Aur Shabnam” (1961) also got started. This time he was lucky and both the films proved box-office success. His performance was greatly appreciated in Anpadh (1962) and many offers came in his pocket. Renowned directors like Chetan Anand, Phani Majumdar and Abrar Alvi crafted his acting skills in films “Haqeeqat” (1964), “Akash Deep” (1965) and “Bahaarein Phir Bhi Aayengi” (1966). Hrishikesh Mukherjee presented Dharmendra as an accomplished actor in “Anupama” (1966), “Majhli Didi” (1967) and “Satyakam” (1969), where he played an idealist torn between his lofty ideals and the selfish mortals.

He performed soft, emotional and romantic roles in the early days of his career and shunned away from being trapped in any particular image. With his sensitive face and eye-candy looks, he became the perfect choice for women-centric films. He portrayed a sensitive jail doctor in “Bandini” (1963) while “Anupama” (1966) gave him the patina of an actor. He willingly experimented to do the villain's role in “Aayee Milan Ki Bela” (1964) outshining the hero Rajendra Kumar. The bare-chested Dharmendra looming over Meena Kumari in Phool Aur Patthar (1966) became the most striking image of the film that catapulted him to stardom.

He did James bond type action spy roles in “Ankhen” (1968), “Jugnu” (1973), “Loafer” (1973) and “Shalimar” (1978). In “Khamoshi” (1969), he has briefly shown his gorgeous rear profile and left the audience wanting more. He played overly sensitive writer in “Naya Zamana” (1971) and “Phagun” (1973) and a shy romantic poet in “Black Mail” (1973). In his new incarnation, he played the flirtatious Veeru in “Sholay” (1975) and Professor Parimal Tripathi in “Chupke Chupke” (1975) where his comic timing practically anchored the entire film. He donned a black frock and indulged in lance fights in swashbuckler “Dharam Veer” (1977).

His later films like “Ghulami” (1985), “Hathyar” (1989) and “Batwara” (1989) showcased a mature Dharmendra. However, the masala-action super hit film “Hukumat” (1987) transformed him into a veritable ‘Action Icon’. During the 1990s, Dharmendra did a lot of average films simply because he wanted to be in the midst of what he loved the most. After a four-year hiatus from acting, he staged a comeback with character roles in “Apne” (2007) and “Life in a... Metro” (2007), both the films were critically and commercially successful. Dharmendra is a hungry actor and he gave superb improvised moments in “Johnny Gaddar” (2007). “Yamla Pagla Deewana” (2011) etched Dharmendra as a comic actor far beyond his years.

During his early career, he was eager to act in Punjabi movies. In 1964, he got the plum role of Geeta Bali’s brother-in-law in Rajinder Singh Bedi’s “Rano”. However, the film got scrapped due to the tragic death of Geeta Bali. Shocked Dharmendra decided to shun Punjabi films except doing guest or special appearances in friendly Punjabi ventures post 1970. His first Punjabi film was Kankan De Ohle (1971) in a special role with Asha Parikh. In Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1972), he played a brief role of a cartman. In Do Sher (1974) he was a police officer who disguised as Malang to nab the criminals. Next year, his special appearance as Bholu Rickshawala in Teri Meri Ik Jindari (1975) was to launch his cousin Veerendra. He continued to do small roles off and on as guest appearances in films like “Main Papi Tum Bakhshanhaar”, “Giddha”, “Nachdi Jawani”, “Ambri”, “Putt Jattan De”, “Santo Banto”, “Ranjhan Mera Yaar”, “Qurbani Jatt Di”, “Double DI Trouble” (Double role), “Jora 10 Numbaria” and “Jora- the Second Chapter” etc.

The leading ladies in B-town were swooning over Dharmendra, the India’s answer to James Dean. He was chivalrous and his soft etiquette with the ladies was well known. He acted opposite a bevy of beauties of the day Nutan, Meena Kumari, Saira Banu , Mala Sinha, Tanuja, Nanda, Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Parveen Bobby and Zeenat Aman etc. But his most popular pairing was with the dream girl Hema Malini in more than 20 films. They fell in love on the sets of “Tum Haseen Main Jawan” (1970) and finally got married on August 21, 1979. They have two daughters Esha and Ahana out of this wedlock. He appeared with his daughter Esha in Hema Malini's venture ‘Tell me O Khuda’ (2012).

His first marriage with Prakash Kaur was solemnised in 1954 when he was yet to make his Bollywood debut. They are blessed with four children Vijeta, Sunny, Bobby and Ajeeta. In 1981, Dharmendra established Vijeta Films to launch his son Sunny Deol, who debuted with the blockbuster 'Betaab' (1983). He produced Barsaat (1995) to launch his younger son Bobby. Vijayta Films has since continued with a storied tradition of introducing new talents like Amrita Singh, Twinkle Khanna and Abhay Deol. The banner has also shown faith in first time directors like Rahul Rawail, Rajkumar Santoshi, Sunny Deol, Imtiaz Ali and Shreyas Talpade.

During his illustrious career spanning six decades, he has enacted every conceivable role in over 250 films out of which 78 films have celebrated silver/gold/diamond jubilees at the box-office. More often than not, his performance-oriented roles were overshadowed by his dashing good looks. He is still busy making films, doing Organic farming in his Lonavala farm house and frequently gracing various TV reality shows as a guest. His upcoming projects include “Apne 2” and “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani”.

Despite his ample talent and equally remarkable heroic performances in all genres of movies, he has got a very little recognition by way of awards. He once told that after he missed Filmfare’s ‘Black Lady Statuette’ for either Anupama (1966) or Satyakam (1969), he decided not to take his acting seriously. As a consolation, he was given Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He won National film Award as producer of the film “Ghayal” (1990). He is a recipient of the prestigious Living Legend Award by the FICCI. He was felicitated with Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 2012. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 2004 from Bikaner constituency.

Dharmendra used to liven up film dos like a true-blue showstopper. Sartorial sense was another dimension of his success story. His textured suits, slim fit pants and fancy pullovers made him king of fashion. Even today, he’s one of the most stylish men around. He was voted as one of the World’s Most Handsome Men and ‘Stardust magazine’ gave him the title of “Hot Dharam”. This title does not let him grow old, even at the age of eighty-six, macho Dharmendra is handsomely young and a crowd-puller.

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