Greetings to Dharmenrda Bhaji on his 85th Birthday (8 December)
‘Naram Garam’ Dharmendra: The Real He-Man of Bollywood
Six decades ago, an unknown tubewell mechanic from Sahnewal set out on a journey to the “City of Dreams” Bombay to realise his ambition of becoming a hero. He is none other than our “Punjab da Sher-Puttar” Dharmendra. 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 unparallel and his sensitive eyes create an intriguing romance wooing his ladies. Many stars got sidelined, but Dharmendra was the rock that wouldn’t budge. He took rapid strides to become the poster boy for the tendon. A top draw at the box office across several decades, Dharmendra's towering talent got overlooked because the industry didn't know how to deal with his Greek god looks. Simply dashing Dharmendra remains true to his image of the lovable Prince Charming. Surprisingly, the outline of his hairstyle has not changed throughout his career.
Dharmendra was born in Nasrali village (Ludhiana, Punjab) on December 8, 1935. His father Kewal Kishan Singh Deol was a school teacher and his mother Satwant Kaur was a housewife. His family shifted to Sahnewal, when he was about seven years old. He did his intermediate from Ramgarhia College, Phagwara. He was fascinated by the films right from childhood, often travelling miles to watch Dillagi(1949) starring Suraiya at least 40 times. He was die-hard fan of bollywood stars Motilal and Dilip Kumar. He participated in the Filmfare’s ‘Spot-The-Talent’ competition held in January, 1958. The august panel comprising of great filmmakers Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt selected the debonair Dharmendra with top rank.
He came to the Mayanagri with the hope of getting hero’s roles on a platter. But no offers came his way, when he approached producer S.Mukherjee of Filmistan, he curtly responded that he wanted an actor not a football player. Dharmendra used to sit on a bench in the studios and wait endlessly for a much needed break. Finally, the lady luck smiled on him and he got a second lead role in 'Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere'(1960). During the preview show, the financiers disapproved Dharmendra and advised the producer Bihari Masand to replace him with an established actor. However, director Arjun Hingorani stuck to his ground. A very skinny and young Dharmendra played the role of Ashok, who advertised for Cavander cigarettes on busy streets by wearing high stilts and spent his nights on the footpath. Ironically, no body recognized him at the premiere and he returned home by a local train. The film tanked at the box-office but Dharamendra got accolades from the critics.
New films offers came from Bimal Roy (Bandini) and Ramesh Sehgal (Shola and Shabnam). Phani Majumdar, Chetan Anand Dulal Guha, Asit Sen and Abrar Alvi crafted his acting talent. Rishikesh Mukherjee presented him as an accomplished actor in Anupama, Manjhli Didi and Satyakam. The bare-chested Dharmendra looming over Meena Kumari in Phool Aur Patthar is the most striking image of the film that catapulted him to stardom. Dharmendra, with his sensitive face and eye-candy looks, became the perfect choice for women-centric films. Then, followed an amazing period of creativity with a horde of films like Ankhen, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Shikar, Mere Hamdam Mere Dost, Jeevan Mrityu, Sharafat, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Seeta Aur Geeta, Yaadon Ki Baraat, Black Mail, Pratigya and Sholay etc.
Dharmendra shunned away from being trapped in any image. A sensitive jail doctor of ‘Bandini’ donned a black frock and indulged in lance fights in swashbuckler ‘Dharam Veer’. In Satyakam, he played an idealist torn between his ideals and the changing world. He did James bond type action spy roles in Ankhen, Jugnu, Lofar and Shalimar films. He played a shy romantic poet in Black Mail and overly sensitive writer in Naya Zamana and Phagun. He played the happy-go-lucky Veeru in Sholay and Professor Parimal Tripathi in Chupke Chupke where his comic timing practically anchored the entire film. His later films like Ghulami, Hathyar and Batwara showcased a mature Dharmendra. However, the masala action super hit film Hukumat (1987) finally trapped him in the action star image that he is mostly known for. After doing every conceivable role in every imaginable genre across decades in over 250 films his greatness as an actor would be an addendum.
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, the shooting of a film. Some of his recent films include Johnny Gaddar, Apne, Life in a... Metro and Yamla Pagla Deewana etc. He played a double role in the Punjabi film Double Di Trouble (2014). Dharmendra is a hungry actor and gave superb improvised moments in Johnny Gaddar, a great performance is still a kid’s stuff for him.
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” while Meena Rai was the lead opposite him. 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. Two popular songs ‘Haye Ni Main Sadke..’ and ‘Sohniye Ni ..Kankan De Ohle Ohle..’ were performed by the pair. In Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1972), he played a brief role of a cart man. In Do Sher (1974) he was a police officer who disguised as Malang to nab the criminals. The theme song ‘O Karni Bharni.. Dena Painda Til Til Da Lekha’ was picturised on him. 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 and Jora 10 Numbaria and Jora - The Second Chapterr etc.
His first marriage with Prakash Kaur was solemnised in 1954 and they are blessed with four children Sunny, Bobby, Ajeeta and Vijeta. He produced Betab (1983) for launching Sunny and Barsaat(1995) to launch his younger son Bobby. An on-screen pairing with Hema Malini in around thirty movies triggered a relationship and the two got married in 1979. They have two daughters Esha and Aahna out of this wedlock. He appeared with his daughter Esha in Hema Malini's venture ‘Tell me O Khuda’ (2012).
He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2012. He got Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and was awarded National film award as producer of Ghayal. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 2004 from Bikaner constituency. In 1970, Stardust magazine gave him the title of 'Hot Dharam'. Now this title does not let him grow old. Eighty-four, macho Dharmendra is handsomely young.
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Bhim Raj Garg, Blogger
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