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Mumbai: My tribute to Dharmendra who passed away today morning.
The dazzling, dynamic, and eternally handsome star-actor Dharmendra Singh Deol, fondly known across generations as the ‘He-Man of Bollywood,’ passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89. His demise marks the end of a golden chapter in Hindi cinema, leaving behind a cinematic legacy characterized by raw charisma, versatility, and an appeal that transcended demographic divides. Dharmendra was, simply put, everyone’s hero—a man whose on-screen persona exuded rugged masculinity, vulnerability, and a heart of gold.
The Journey from Village Boy to Cinematic Icon
Born Dharmendra Singh Deol on December 8, 1935, in the village of Nasrali in the Ludhiana district of Punjab, his roots were deeply embedded in the soil of rural India. His ancestral village was Dangon. His early life was spent in Sahnewal, where his father, Kewal Kishan Singh Deol, served as the village school’s headmaster. After completing his intermediate studies from Ramgarhia College, Phagwara, in 1952, the young Dharmendra, fueled by a passion for cinema, took a daring step. Inspired by a Filmfare magazine advertisement by famed directors Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt, he made the journey to Malerkotla to have his photograph taken, an act that symbolized his leap of faith into the world of films.
A big fan of actress-singer Suraiya, it is a testament to his early passion that he reportedly walked several miles in his hometown to watch her film, Dillagi (1949), forty times. Decades later, his deep regard for the silver screen’s doyens was evident when he attended Suraiya’s funeral in 2004, an occasion many others from the film fraternity reportedly missed.
Dharmendra’s breakthrough came when he won Filmfare magazine’s new talent award, prompting his move to Bombay to pursue his dream.
He made his debut in Arjun Hingorani’s 1960 film, Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere.
Versatility: From Romantic Lead to ‘Action King’
In the initial phase of his career, Dharmendra was cast primarily as the romantic interest, showcasing his debonair looks and innate charm in films between 1960 and 1967. He worked opposite many leading ladies of the era, including Mala Sinha (Anpadh, Pooja Ke Phool), Nanda (Akashdeep), Saira Banu (Ayee Milan Ki Bela), and Nutan (Bandini). His collaboration with the legendary Meena Kumari in films like Kaajal and Phool Aur Patthar proved pivotal.
In 1966, Phool Aur Patthar established him as a solo lead and became his first successful action film. The movie was the highest-grossing film of the year and earned him his first Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. His subsequent starring roles in a host of action blockbusters solidified his image as the quintessential Hindi film action hero, earning him enduring nicknames like “Action King” and, most famously, “He-Man.”
Yet, Dharmendra’s genius lay in his refusal to be typecast. He delivered sterling, nuanced performances in acclaimed dramas such as Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Satyakam and the critically hailed Anupama. By the mid-1970s, he had earned the moniker of a ‘versatile actor,’ capable of seamlessly transitioning from action and drama to comedy, with his impeccable comic timing appreciated in films like Chupke Chupke, Dillagi, and Naukar Biwi Ka.
The Golden Pair and the Magnum Opus
Dharmendra’s career reached its zenith with his on-screen and off-screen pairing with the ‘Dream Girl,’ Hema Malini. Their chemistry was magnetic, leading them to star in over two dozen films together, including hits like Raja Jani, Seeta Aur Geeta, Jugnu, Charas, and Azaad. Their most iconic collaboration, however, remains Ramesh Sippy’s 1975 magnum opus, Sholay. As the lovable rogue ‘Veeru’ alongside Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Jai,’ Dharmendra delivered an unforgettable performance in a film that is now universally listed among the “Top 25 must-see Bollywood films of all time.” In 2005, at the 50th annual Filmfare Awards, Sholay was accorded the special distinction of Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years.
Following the success of Sholay, Dharmendra went on a spectacular run, starring in a string of commercially successful action films between 1976 and 1984, including Dharam Veer, Katilon Ke Kaatil, Ghazab, and Hukumat.
A Family Legacy and Honoured Contributions
In his personal life, Dharmendra was a devoted family man. His first marriage was to Parkash Kaur in 1954, and they had two successful actor sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and two daughters, Vijeta and Ajeeta. Later, his legendary romance with Hema Malini culminated in their marriage, which resulted in two daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.
He also expanded his horizons into film production, setting up Vijayta Films. Through this banner, he famously launched the careers of both his sons: Sunny Deol in the 1983 blockbuster Betaab and Bobby Deol in 1995’s Barsaat. The banner also produced the 1990 action flick Ghayal, starring Sunny, which went on to win seven Filmfare Awards, including Best Movie, and the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. His nephew, Abhay Deol, was also launched in the 2005 film Socha Na Tha.
Dharmendra’s later career saw him successfully transition into character roles, making a successful comeback in 2007 with critically and commercially successful films like Life in a… Metro and Apne, the latter featuring him alongside both his sons for the first time. The trio later collaborated on the popular Yamla Pagla Deewana franchise.
An Enduring Recognition
Though he often expressed regret about never winning a Filmfare Award in the Best Actor category, his immense contribution to Hindi cinema was officially recognized in 1997 when he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. On that emotional occasion, his idol, Dilip Kumar, remarked, “Whenever I get to meet with God Almighty, I will set before Him my only complaint – why did You not make me as handsome as Dharmendra?”.
Beyond the silver screen, Dharmendra also served his nation as a politician, representing the Bikaner constituency in Rajasthan as a member of the 14th Lok Sabha from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2012, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor.
In his final years, the veteran spent much of his time at his farmhouse in Karjat, away from the city’s hustle, often immersed in his love for Urdu poetry, which he also published in the form of a book.
Dharmendra’s passing is an irreplaceable loss. He was more than an actor; he was a cultural phenomenon whose image of the strong, yet sensitive, hero will forever be etched in the collective memory of Indian cinema lovers. He departs as a cinematic legend, leaving behind a profound vacuum in the world of entertainment.
Hasnain Naqvi is a former member of the history faculty at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
