Dharmendra, The ‘He-Man’ : In the dazzling world of Bollywood, there are only a few faces who are remembered with the same fondness even after decades. One of those names is Dharmendra Singh Deol, or simply ‘Dharmendra’. A star who not only ruled millions of hearts, but also lived the dual image of an ‘Action He-Man‘ and a ‘Romance King‘ simultaneously. Today, when the whole world is remembering his amazing journey, we will know in depth about the personality who transformed ordinariness into extraordinary.
Journey From An Ordinary Punjabi Munde to ‘Bobby’ Star
Dharmendra was born on December 8, 1935 in a Jat Sikh family in Nasrali village, Punjab. His early life was full of the fragrance and simplicity of the soil of the fields. His father was a school teacher. No one could have imagined that this Munda would one day become the biggest star of Bollywood.
But fate had something else in store. It was the 1960s. Filmfare magazine organized ‘New Talent’ contest. On insistence of friends, Dharmendra took part in it and became the winner. His Bollywood journey started from here. His first film ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’ (1960) did not do much at the box office, but it brought a new hero to the screen.
But real recognition came in the 1970s. After Rajesh Khanna, if any actor ruled romantic roles, it was Dharmendra. Films like ‘Sholay‘ and ‘Sita Aur Geeta‘ created a different image for him.
Jai And Veeru of ‘Sholay’ : When One Role Changed The Definition
Ramesh Sippy’s great film ‘Sholay’, released in 1975, not only changed the history of Indian cinema but also gave a new and solid direction to Dharmendra’s career. His character ‘Jai’ in the film was calm, serious and firm in his intentions. His acting achieved a different level in front of Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Veeru’. This film is still counted among the most important films of Indian cinema, and Dharmendra’s dialogue “Jai koi gali to nahi dekha, woh bas rasta dekha hai” is still on people’s lips. This film established him as a superstar.
But Dharmendra’s diversity can be gauged from the fact that during the same period, he also acted brilliantly in social films like ‘Pratigya’ (1972). In this film he played the role of a man who loves a prostitute and stands up for her honor in front of the society.
‘He-Man’ of Action : Heart-Pounding Scenes And Countless Hit Films
By the 1980s, Dharmendra changed his image. From a romantic hero he became the biggest ‘action star’. His muscular body and ability to perform stunts earned him the title of ‘He-Man’. The films of this period set the box office on fire.
Films like ‘Rajput’ (1982), ‘Zurmana’ (1981), ‘Ghar Sansar’ (1981), and ‘The Hero’ (1983) were superhits. His pairing with Zeenat Aman was very much liked. His dance song “Main Jatt Yamla Pagla Deewana” is still played in weddings and parties. During this period, he established his production house ‘Vijayata Films’, under which many hit films of his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol were made.
Personal Life : Love, Controversies And A Unique Family
Dharmendra’s personal life has always been in the media headlines. He was married to Prakash Kaur, who hails from Punjab, and the couple has two sons (Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol) and two daughters.
But in the world of Bollywood, his name is associated with actress Hema Malini. They met on the sets of the film ‘Sholay’ and gradually this friendship turned into love. This relationship became one of the biggest controversies of that time, as Dharmendra was already married. Eventually, he married Hema Malini and the couple has a daughter, Esha Deol, who is a well-known actress. This family is still one of the most prominent families of Bollywood.
Dharmendra never made any big statement regarding his personal life, but his love was always reflected in his films.
Legacy And Influence : A Star That Never Set
Dharmendra’s career spans more than six decades. He has worked in more than 200 films. He is not only a great actor but also a poet and painter. His deep emotions are reflected in his poetry.
Even today, he continues to appear in films with his sons. Films like ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana‘ (2011) and ‘Apne‘ (2022) showed that the same magic is still intact in his acting.
Dharmendra is not just an actor but an institution. He proved that if the intentions are strong and the hard work is honest, then even a boy from a small village can reach the highest heights of Bollywood. His contribution is not only to Bollywood but to every person who dreams.
This immortal legacy of his will continue to inspire the coming generations. He is the ‘Dhartiputra’ and ‘He-Man’ of Bollywood in the true sense.
