Dharmendra is considered the most handsome actor in the history of Indian cinema. After seeing Dharmendra, Dev Anand had said: why don’t I have such a face? Seeing his health and the glow on his face, Dilip Kumar had also once said that he wanted to have a personality like Dharmendra in his next life. Dharmendra remains fit even at this stage of age. He thinks age is just a number. He wanted to make a romantic film with Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit.
Dharmendra, born on December 8, 1935 in Sahnewal village of Ludhiana district of Punjab, celebrates his 89th birthday today. On his birthday, Indianewsget spoke to producer-directors KC Bokadia and Ashok Tyagi, who had worked with him.
I got inspired to participate in Dilip Kumar films
Dharmendra has revealed on several occasions that he got inspired to enter films after watching Dilip Kumar’s films. When Dharmendra was in class ten, he saw Dilip Kumar’s film ‘Shaheed’ for the first time. After that, he fell in love with Dilip Kumar’s acting skills.
Looking in the mirror, he would ask: Can I become Dilip Kumar?
Dharmendra always considered Dilip Kumar as his God, his brother and his ideal. Often share loving messages about Dilip Kumar on social media. Sharing a video on Instagram, Dharmendra had said, “I was working and coming by bike. Wherever movie posters were displayed, he saw his reflection. Stays awake all night and has strange dreams. After waking up in the morning, I asked the mirror: can I become Dilip Kumar?
When Dilip Kumar presented the Life Time Achievement Award to Dharmendra, he became very emotional.
Dilip Kumar was also a fan of Dharmendra’s personality.
Dharmendra received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 42nd Filmfare Awards in 1997. Dilip Kumar himself presented this award to Dharmendra. Dilip Kumar was also impressed by Dharmendra’s personality. He had said during the awards ceremony: “When I saw Dharam for the first time, there was excitement in my heart, what if Allah had made me like this?
Dev Anand also wanted to look like Dharmendra
For the first time, when Dev Anand saw Dharmendra, he said: Oh my God, why didn’t you give me this face. Director Ashok Tyagi revealed this in a conversation with Indianewsget. Tyagi said: When I was doing ‘Return of Jewelthief’, I also cast Dharam ji in that film. However, the title of the film is taken from Dev Anand ji’s film ‘Jewelthief’, that’s why I cast Dev Saheb for the lead role.
Dharam ji knew that Dev Saheb’s character was stronger than him, but yet he directed the film. Dharam ji contributed a lot in the making of this film. When Dev Saheb was approached for this film, Dev Saheb had shared the story of his first meeting with Dharam ji.
Dev Anand’s eyes were fixed on Dharmendra who was standing far away in the crowd.
Ashok Tyagi said: When Dharam ji had come to participate in the Mumbai Film Fair competition, all the people who came to participate in the competition were taken to show the filming. At that time, the shooting of Dev Saheb’s film was underway.
Dev Saheb had said that after seeing Dharmendra standing far away in the crowd, he said: Oh my God, why didn’t you give me that face. Moreover, Dev Saheb was so impressed with Dharmendra’s stand-offish personality that he even called him and shared his lunch with him. Dharam ji had told me that he had seen an English type lunch box for the first time.
There was a tough competition between Dev Saheb and Dharmendra during the shoot.
Coincidentally, Dev Anand’s real name is Dharam Dev Anand. Dharam ji had a lot of respect for Dev Saheb. Dev Anand and Dharam ji had a very mysterious relationship, but there was also competition during the shoot. By this time, Dharam ji had become a big star. Each of his dialogues is on everyone’s lips. Dev Saheb also had his own unique position.
How can a director who doesn’t know how to tell a story properly make a film?
Before “Return of Jewelthief”, I had started “Mera Iman” with Dharam ji. His opposite in this film was Smita Patil. After making 10 reels, the film could not be made as Smita had died.
Before signing Dharam ji in this film, I had read an interview with him in a magazine, in which he said: how can a director who cannot tell the story properly be able to make a film?
After reading this interview, I rehearsed for 10 days. I completely memorized the story. When I told the story to Dharam ji, he patted me on the back and blessed me. Today I can say with great confidence that I can tell the story of the film to any great actor.
A rural man is still alive in him
Even after achieving such success, a villager of the village is still alive inside Dharam ji. That’s why he likes living in Lonavala Farm House more. Even today he is a down-to-earth star, I have seen such quality in very few people. He always takes care of those with whom he has good relationships.
I used to sleep on the bench after eating a gram, I never had that chance.
Dharmendra found it difficult to get into films. According to reports, Dharmendra did not learn acting anywhere. Dharmendra won the talent hunt competition organized by Filmfare, leaving behind many talented people. After winning the talent hunt, Dharmendra came to Mumbai, but the path to cinema was not easy. He would walk miles to visit movie producers’ offices to save money and get something to eat. Many times he would sleep on the bench after eating a gram and sometimes even a gram was not available.
I only got 51 rupees in the first film
Dharmendra got his first opportunity in director Arjun Hingorani’s films in the film ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’. Dharmendra got only Rs 51 for this film released in 1960. Even after this film, Dharmendra took only token money in all the films he did with Arjun Hingorani. Dharmendra owed his entire life to the Hingorani family and never asked them for money.
Dharmendra considers age as a simple number
Dharmendra has appeared in 306 films so far. He has played everything from action hero to romantic and comedic characters. Dharmendra thinks age is just a number. Producer-director KC Bokadia said, “Our coordination with Dharam ji was so perfect that even though I approached him for the shoot two days ago, he never talked about give and take. I still have a very good relationship with him. He said that in India, an actor is considered old at 60 years. The 60-65 year old actor is making love stories in Hollywood.
I wanted to make a romantic film with Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit
Dharam ji had told me – I am also going to do a love story film, in which Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit are in the cast. I will come as a hero in this love story film. I’m going to tell the 25 year old actors who are wandering around what a love story is? Anyway, I have a lot of experience with love stories. I can’t say anything yet about why this film couldn’t be made. Dharam ji considers himself young. This is the secret of his good health.
Kamal Amrohi was angry with Dharmendra and Meena Kumari’s closeness.
The director had blackened Dharmendra’s face
Some people did not like Dharmendra’s good looks. Meena’s husband Kamal Amrohi was angry with Dharmendra and Meena Kumari’s closeness. Even though there came a time when Kamal and Meena separated, there was love between them, which is why they were very important to each other.
Meanwhile, Dharmendra had also left Meena, but Kamal Amrohi had not forgotten the closeness of Dharmendra and Meena Kumari. When he directed the film ‘Razia Sultan’ with Dharmendra, he blackened Dharmendra’s face in a scene. However, people associated with the film had stated that this scene was not necessary in the film. It is believed that Kamal Amrohi had expressed his grudge against Dharmendra regarding Meena Kumari.
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