‘One of many dignified elements of their relationship is that Hema reportedly informed Dharamji that she would by no means disturb his first household.’

IMAGE: Dharmendra and Meena Kumari in Baharon Ki Manzil.

Simplicity remained Dharmendra’s greatest charm, and Dr Rajiv Vijaykar wrote about it at size within the star’s biography Dharmendra: A Biography: Not Only a He-Man.

“Dharmendra was an excellent actor, however a fair higher human being,” Dr Vijaykar tells Patcy N/Rediff.

 

IMAGE: Dharmendra and Nutan in Bandini.

An important function in Dharmendra’s early profession is usually mentioned to be Bandini. Would you agree?

He first caught folks’s consideration with Shola Aur Shabnam. That was additionally the primary movie during which he appeared topless in a scene although that had nothing to do with the movie’s success.

However he was positively observed.

Bandini in all probability drew extra consideration as a result of it was an acclaimed movie made by Bimal Roy, a grasp filmmaker.

In Bandini, he wasn’t actually positioned in opposition to Ashok Kumar and Nutan, each extremely regarded actors, however he managed to make an enduring impression in that small function.

But when I actually wish to spotlight Dharmendra the actor, I’d level to his later movies, Phool Aur Patthar.

Anupama is one among his most under-rated performances.

He was excellent in Jeevan Mrityu and Seeta Aur Geeta.

I beloved him in Mera Gaon Mera Desh, which has many similarities to Sholay. Dharamji himself informed me this.

He was excellent in Pratigya and Chupke Chupke.

Even Ghazab, a average success during which he performed a double function — one among them a ghost — is extremely under-rated.

Then, there’s Apne I genuinely felt he deserved all of the Finest Actor awards that yr. Sadly, he did not get any.

In your ebook, you briefly touched upon Dharmendra and Meena Kumari’s affiliation. Might you speak about that?

Throughout my analysis, I learn one thing about Meena Kumari, and in addition spoke to somebody, whose title I can not reveal.

Each sources shared the identical perspective: Dharmendra was merely an anchor for her.

It was she who entered his life with that specific emotional angle.

They labored collectively in a number of movies, however solely Phool Aur Patthar succeeded.

Baharon Ki Manzil, Majhli Didi, Chandan Ka Palna flopped, Purnima did reasonably effectively.

She wanted somebody throughout that part of her life, and he, being a good-hearted particular person, grew to become that somebody.

IMAGE: Dharmendra and Asha Parekh in Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke.

Jeetendra and Dharmendra labored collectively in over 12 movies. But, not everybody is aware of about it.

That was the period of multi-starrers, and each actors have been extraordinarily saleable. They labored a number of shifts in a single day.

Dharmendra had a powerful motion picture, and Jeetendra appeared in masala-style motion dramas.

Jeetendra was fairly amused after I informed him they’d carried out so many movies collectively as a result of ‘most of them have been flops’.

Other than Dharam Veer, they did not have a single main hit.

The later movies, Hum Sab Chor Hain, Dharma Karma, Sone Pe Suhaga, Jaani Dost, even The Burning Practice have been field workplace failures.

They weren’t often called a well-known pair like the best way Dharmendra-Amitabh Bachchan or Dharmendra-Shatrughan Sinha have been, regardless of having just a few movies collectively.

You have got written that Asha Parekh as soon as requested Dharmendra to not drink on set when he was capturing along with her.

Sure, Ashaji herself informed me this. She talked about that he was a little bit afraid of her. By the way, her pairing with Dharamji was one of the vital profitable ones on the field workplace.

That they had consecutive superhits like Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Shikar, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, and Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke.

Samadhi, which was Dharamji‘s house manufacturing, was one other success.

Ashaji informed me, ‘That easy boy from the village by no means actually modified’ and that was true.

IMAGE: Hema Malini and Dharmendra in Tum Haseen Mein Jawan.

Inform us about Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s relationship, personally and professionally.

Their marriage passed off secretly. (Journalist) Bharti Pradhan stumbled upon the data by likelihood as a result of her household shares the identical priest as Hema’s.

The priest hadn’t realised that she wasn’t only a journalist, however a journalist with appreciable affect within the trade.

One of many dignified elements of their relationship is that Hema reportedly informed Dharamji that she would by no means disturb his first household.

For years, there was a little bit of rigidity, which was comprehensible.

However when Hema had an accident (in 2015), Sunny (Deol) went to Mathura to see her. Hopefully, issues are superb between the households now.

It’s maybe probably the most dignified second marriage I’ve ever seen, not solely in movies, but in addition in life.

Dharamji himself informed me as soon as that his first spouse Prakash Kaur was on the lookout for a match for Esha at the moment.

Their work relationship started with their early movies and deepened in the course of the making of Sholay.

Their first correct assembly was at a premiere the place Shashi Kapoor was current.

On the units of Sholay, he started bribing the junior members of the unit in order that sure pictures may very well be extended. He used to offer them small indicators, and cash as a result of he needed to spend extra time along with her.

There will need to have been many emotional upheavals.

I keep in mind a headline from after I was at school, ‘Hema To Marry Jeetendra.’

I used to be a Jeetendra fan too, largely due to the songs in his movies, and I keep in mind being fairly pleased about that announcement.

Ultimately, folks intervened and made them perceive as a result of Jeetendra was already engaged on the time.

What does Dharmendra’s loss of life imply to Hindi movie trade?

Dharmendra’s loss of life means a colossal loss to everybody, his mates, household, followers, cinema and to what’s often called good pure performing, which doesn’t get shackled by technique performing.

He simply flowed seamlessly into each function, whether or not it was a ghost, a politician, a professor, a dacoit, a prison, a don, or a commissioner.

Dharmendra was an excellent actor, however a fair higher human being.

Images curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff