Dharmendra: The He-Man of Bollywood and the Evergreen Legend of Indian Cinema
Early life and background
Dharmendra, often referred to as the "He-Man of Bollywood", was born on December 8, 1935 in Nasrali village near Ludhiana, Punjab. His full name is Dharmendra Singh Deol. He grew up in a humble, middle-class Sikh family. His father, Kewal Kishan Singh Deol, was a school teacher, and his mother, Satwant Kaur, was a housewife, who instilled deep cultural and moral values in him.
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Dharmendra showed keen interest in films from a young age. He would often walk miles to watch films in the local theater – influenced by actors like Dilip Kumar and Guru Dutt. Little did he know that one day he would become one of the biggest superstars of Indian cinema. After completing his early education at Government Senior Secondary School, Laltan Kalan, he obtained his intermediate degree from Ramgarhia College, Phagwara. However, his destiny was not in academics but in cinema.
Dharmendra's journey to Bollywood is no less than an inspiration.
In the late 1950s, he came across an advertisement for the "Filmfare Talent Hunt" competition – which was organized to find new faces for the Indian film industry. They sent in their photographs and were selected from thousands of entries.
After this he went to Bombay (now Mumbai) to try his luck in films.
After facing many rejections, he finally got his first break in the film "Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere" (1960) directed by Arjun Hingorani. The film did not perform well commercially, but it marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
🌹 Rise to stardom (1960–1970)
By the mid-1960s, Dharmendra began to receive recognition for his good looks and natural acting. He was often called the most handsome man in India – and many even compared him to Hollywood macho heroes.
Some of his early notable films include:
Anpadh (1962) with Mala Sinha
Bandini (1963) directed by Bimal Roy
Haqeeqat (1964) – India's first major war film
Phool Aur Patthar (1966) – his breakthrough role
Phool Aur Patthar" made Dharmendra a household name. His shirtless scene in the film became famous and earned him the title of "Bollywood's He-Man".
He received his first Filmfare Best Actor nomination for this film.
During the 1960s, he starred in romantic dramas and action films, pairing with top actresses such as Meena Kumari, Saira Banu, Mala Sinha, Nutan and Sharmila Tagore.
❤️ Chemistry with Hema Malini
One of the defining aspects of Dharmendra's career was his on-screen and off-screen chemistry with Hema Malini, the "Dream Girl" of Indian cinema.
They first worked together in "Tum Haseen Main Jawan" (1970) and had many hits such as:
Their chemistry was magical and fans considered them one of the most favorite couples of Bollywood. Eventually, due to legal restrictions on second marriage under Hindu law, Dharmendra converted to Islam and married Hema Malini in 1980.
Sholay (1975): The Turning Point
If one film defined Dharmendra's legendary status, it was Ramesh Sippy's "Sholay" (1975) – one of India's most famous films.
He played the role of a charming and brave dacoit Veeru opposite Amitabh Bachchan (as Jai).
"Sholay" became the biggest blockbuster in Indian film history and is still considered the greatest Hindi film of all time.
Dharmendra's comic timing, emotional depth and natural style made Veeru an unforgettable character.
⚔️ Versatile roles and evergreen careers
Dharmendra wasn't just an action hero – he proved his versatility through different genres:
Films like Chupke Chupke (1975), Satyakam (1969) and Anupama (1966) showcased his softer, emotional side and brilliant comic timing.
He dominated the 1970s and 1980s with blockbuster films:
Comedic and Emotional Roles:
In Chupke Chupke, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Dharmendra showed impeccable comic timing – proving that he was not just about muscles, but also wit and intelligence.
Dharmendra married twice. He has four children with his first wife, Prakash Kaur, whom he married before entering films:
Sunny Deol (Actor, Politician)
Ajita and Vijeta Deol (daughters)
Ahana Deol (dancer and entrepreneur)
His sons Sunny and Bobby carried forward his legacy in Bollywood, while Isha also made her mark in films.
Apart from films, Dharmendra also entered Indian politics.
In 2004, he contested the Lok Sabha elections from Bikaner (Rajasthan) on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket and won.
Although he kept his political profile low, he used his popularity to support cultural and social causes.
Dharmendra's contribution to Indian cinema has been honored with several honours:
🏆Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1997)
🏆 Padma Bhushan (2012) – India's third highest civilian award
🏆National Film Award for Best Popular Film (as producer of Ghayal, 1990)
He was also included among the "Top 10 Handsome Men in the World" by the New York Times in the 1970s – a testament to his charisma and global appeal.
🎥 Later career and comeback
Dharmendra remained active in films also in the 2000s and 2010s.
He was seen with his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol:
Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011)
Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013)
Yamla Pagla Deewana: Again (2018)
Fans loved seeing three generations of the Deol family together on screen.
In 2023, he played a memorable role in Karan Johar's "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani", where he played Alia Bhatt's grandfather – proving that even at the age of 87, Dharmendra's charm is timeless.
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🌼Dharmendra's personality and legacy
Dharmendra's image is that of a humble, soft-spoken and down to earth person.
Despite superstardom, he always remained connected to his Punjabi roots and never lost touch with simplicity.
Known for his kindness, he treated his co-stars and crew like
In interviews, he often talks about his love for poetry, nature and farming – calling his farmhouse in Lonavala his "peaceful paradise".
