Dharmendra – A Legend who lit up every frame, every Heart

“SAB KUCH PAAKAR BHI HAASIL E ZINDAGI KUCH BHI NAHI —
KAMBHAKT JAAN KYUN JAATI HAI JAATE HUWE”.

Salim Kaloo

Dharmendra,s passing marks the end of an Era, leaving behind a lasting legacy of the films that significantly contributed to the evolution of Hindi Cinema in a different way.
It will not be an overstatement that Dharmendra was the People’s Hero and, indeed, the most exceptional entertainer in Indian Cinema’s History. Unlike many of his Peers, Dharmendra never sought to be Number One or be labelled as a Superstar; instead, he forged a unique path, achieving immense success by being different.

Dharmendra’s entry into Indian Cinema was notable, as it coincided with the established presence of Thespian Dilip Kumar, as well as Dev Anand & Raj Kapoor who had already cemented their status as Industry Leaders. Interestingly, Dharmendra had no prior film experience or formal acting training. As the son of a school teacher, hailing from a small village of phagwara Punjab, he drew inspiration from his Role Model Dilip Saab and would often secretly watch his movies from a young age. Not disclosing his desire to move to Mumbai to try his luck in movies, One day, in 1958, Dharmendra participated in a talent show in the Dream City , where that Eras renowned filmmakers Guru Dutt & Bimal Roy discovered him and recognised his potential for a career in Hindi film industry.

The release of Dharmendras debut film “Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere| in 1960 marked a notable milestone, introducing a fresh face to the film going public. However, his rise to the fame was not without its challenges, as prominent filmmakers of that period preferred more established actors like Rajinder Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Sunil Dutt & Raj Kumar. In the years that followed, after his debut film, Dharmendra largely appeared in female centric films such as Mamta, Bandini, Majhli Didi, Anpadh, Purnima etc. until he grabbed the lead role in O.P.Ralhan,s 1965 film “ Phool Aur Pathar” opposite Meena Kumari, whose proximity with the actor was talk of the tinsel town that time. The film turned out to be a turning point in his career, catapulting him to stardom and earning him his first blockbuster.

It was majorly, only after “Phool aur Pathar” that Dharmendra had a remarkable ascent to superstardom, overshadowing his contemporaries and drawing the attention of prominent film banners like Hrishikesh Mukherji kind of a director, who offered him transformative roles in films like Anupama and Satyakaam (widely regarded as his finest performance to date). Though action roles remained his preferred choice, his acting range expanded with films like “ Chupke Chupke” “Dillagi” and “Chaitali” , and even critics acknowledged that Dharmendra could excel in any film genre, whether action , comedy or socially themed films, thereby showcasing his versatility in handling all types of roles.

Despite the growing popularity of Rajesh Khanna and the later success of Amitabh Bachan, Dharmendra maintained his distinct position during 70s, overcoming numerous challenges. It was during this period that his On-screen Chemistry with Hema Malini consistently resulted in box office hits, during which he got closer to her and eventually it culminated in their marriage in 1980. Avoiding the competition for being Nemero Uno, the actor focussed on delivering successful movies like “Jugnu”, “Sharafat”, “Izzat”, “Raja Jaani”, Pratigya, Mera Gaon Mera Desh and all time blockbuster Sholay.

80s marked a significant watershed moment for Hindi cinema, characterized by the rise of multi starrer action films. Accordingly, actors like Dharmendra were required to adjust to this new paradigm. As Age and commercial considerations became increasingly crucial, Dharmendra continued to appear in films that prioritized spectacle over substance .This trend likely impacted many actors, not just Dharmendra. Navertheless, the actor managed to feature in a substantial number of successful movies, including seven hits at a stretch in 1987 , a notable achievement never accomplished before by any other actor. Simultaneously, he established his own banner, Vijeta films, under which he launched his sons and produced numerous movies, thereby creating a legacy and empire to follow in the years ahead.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dharmendra earned growing respect with each passing year, presumably due to the public perception of him as an actor with remarkable human qualities and a passion for audience affection, rather than an actor driven by a desire for awards or self-aggrandizement. He never publicly expressed discontent about being denied the dada sahib Phalke award or any other civilian honour, even as his younger colleagues received them year after year. Even critics had remarked frequently that Dharmendra should have been awarded suitably for his outstanding performances in Satyakam & Chupke Chupke. Despite his involvement in politics, he chose not to lobby for such recognition, instead remained humble and drawing comfort from the love of the audience.
In the film world, very few actors have remained relevant for a longer period, and Dharmendra was one such actor who remained significant for an impressive 65 years. This Iconic figure is no longer with us, but even after his death, he continues to live in the hearts of the people. Interestingly, his un released movie “IKKIS’ with the grandson of his GUDDI Co-Star (Jaya Bachan) who had once described the actor as “Greek God” shall be released on 25th December 2025 and its trailer has already created huge buzz in the Cine market.

While seeing the visuals on television three days back when Dharmendra,s body was being carried for the cremation, a couple of months recorded video surfaced on social media where the actor was describing the journey of life so beautifully and philosophically in his own words;

“SAB KUCH PAAKAR BHI HAASIL E ZINDAGI KUCH BHI NAHI —
KAMBHAKT JAAN KYUN JAATI HAI JAATE HUWE”
PATA NAHI KAHAN LEJAYENGE KON LEJAYEGA (Who will take me, where will they take me———–)

(Straight Talk Communications Exclusive)