Iconic actor Dharmendra is known to boomers and baby boomers for his iconic roles in films like ‘Sholay’ and to Gen Z for his heart warming role as Ranveer's grandfather in ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’. But the veteran actor's genius craft is extended far beyond. Let’s talk about the gems that never got the “main character” spotlight they deserved.
‘Chupke Chupke’
1975 film ‘Chupke Chupke’, directed by the genius Hrishikesh Mukherjee, remains one of the sharpest, wittiest, and most effortlessly hilarious films ever made.
Dharmendra, playing Dr Parimal Tripathi, didn’t just do comedy—he conquered it. His chemistry with Sharmila Tagore and comic rivalry with Amitabh Bachchan make this Hrishikesh Mukherjee film a must-watch!
Then came ‘The Burning Train’ (1980), an edge-of-the-seat, high-stakes multi-starrer that gave Bollywood one of its most memorable disaster dramas. The film also starred Vinod Khanna, Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh, Vinod Mehra, and Danny Denzongpa in pivotal roles.
Now, if someone still believes Dharmendra only played tough men who wrestled villains for breakfast, hand them Anupama (1966). Here, he is Ashok, a sensitive, soft-spoken poet and teacher. There are no fists, no sweat, no heroic background score, just him and his raw display of attention.
Remember the 2007 reunion of the Deol family on screen? In ‘Apne,’ Dharmendra starred alongside his sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, making it a Deol family milestone.
The film left a mark on the audience with themes of legacy, pride, reconciliation, and love tangled in competitive sport and family drama.
'Seeta Geeta'
'Seeta Aur Geeta' (1972) features Dharmendra as the charming, kind-hearted Ravi. He brings warmth, humour, and romance as he helps Geeta find her strength. His chemistry with Hema Malini remains iconic, fun, and unforgettable.
Dharmendra is currently recovering and is stable, according to Hema Malini. The actress slammed false death reports circulating online, calling them “disrespectful and irresponsible,” and urged the media to respect the family’s privacy.
Her official tweet reads, "What is happening is unforgivable! How can responsible channels spread false news about a person who is responding to treatment and is recovering? This is being extremely disrespectful and irresponsible. Please give due respect to the family and its need for privacy."
