Dharmendra redefined romance in films:
With Dharmendra’s passing away, actors Sachin Pilgaonkar, Aruna Irani, Sanjay Kapoor bid heartfelt adieu
Indian Film Industry bids emotional adieu to Dharmendra, a legendary actor who defined
For more than six decades, Dharmendra
wasn’t merely a star, he was an emotion that India carried in its heart. A rare combination of earthiness and charming looks coupled with raw masculinity and surprising gentleness, he went on to emerge as the man women adored, men admired, and children imitated. His passing away marks the end of an era when stardom was born not from PR machinery, social media, or curated image-building, but from pure charisma, screen presence, and the love of the audience.Today, as Dharmendra bid adieu to his loved ones and fans alike, Bollywood celebrities pays tribute to the legend who was indeed the first national crush as a man whose smile made hearts skip, whose integrity felt personal, and whose simplicity felt like home.
The dreamer from Punjab Dharmendra turned out to be India’s favourite hero.
Way back he emerged as the nation’s crush. Dharmendra Singh Deol was a young boy from Sahnewal, Punjab, who never wanted to go to the school due to his strict father, who was also a teacher in his school. However he had a dream as wide as the horizon. His rise was cinematic in itself: he won a talent hunt competition in 1960, packed his suitcase, and left for Bombay with nothing but courage, hope, and a photograph that he carried everywhere.
His debut in the lead Arjun Hingorani directorial ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’ released in 1960 didn’t shake the box office, but it introduced a new face with striking humility and impossible good looks. The industry took notice, and audiences, especially women, found a new reason to return to theatres.
He was a legend loved equally by co-stars and fans who admired his goodness, directors praised his dedication, and producers trusted his box-office power. Fan-club newsletters from decades ago describe him as “the most handsome man India ever produced.” Many families kept his photo in albums reserved only for gods and loved ones. For women, he was the safe fantasy; for men, the ideal friend.
When ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’ hit the big screen decades after his prime, theatres across North India erupted with nostalgia. Grown men danced in aisles yelling, “Dharam paaji aa gaya!”
*Sachin Pilgaonkar says “Dharam ji was not only the most good-looking actor but also one of the most humble personalities he has ever met. The very first time he worked with him, he was just nine years old. It was for the film ‘Majhli Didi’ released in 1967 directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, where he played Meena Kumariji’s younger brother and Dharam ji played her husband. Since Dharam ji could never say no to Hrishida, he accepted the role even though it had limited prominence. Sachin remembers seeing this incredibly handsome man on set, who spoke gently and respectfully not only to his co-stars but to every single technician on the set.”
“In the film ‘Resham Ki Dori’ released in 1974 where he (Sachin) played the younger version of Dharam ji, acting together again followed by ‘Sholay’ and later ‘Dil Ka Heera’, in which Dharamji played a customs officer and he (Sachin) played his younger brother, by then they already shared a warm familiarity. We also worked in ‘Krodhi’ too. Years later, it was my (Sachin) privilege and honour to direct Dharamji in ‘Aazmayish’. As a director, Sachin was fond of all his actors, but directing Dharam ji felt truly special.
Sachin also went on to share an anecdote from the late 90s. He had registered the film title ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’ with IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers Association). One day, a producer called him asking for the title, but he refused. A few days later, he received a call from Dharam ji himself. Sachin asked him, ‘How are you, Dharam ji?’ He spoke with such gentleness and warmth. Then he said, ‘Sachin, he wanted to ask him something… you have a film title ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’ with you.’ Sachin replied, ‘No, he doesn’t have it.’ Dharam ji laughed softly and said, ‘But the producer told him you refused him.’ he told him, ‘It was mine only until you asked for it. Now it’s not mine anymore — it’s yours.’
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Sachin sked him if he needed anything else. Because a man who has given so much to Indian cinema — what can we possibly give back to him? His legacy will always stand tall,” Signs off Sachin.
*Aruna Irani worked in many films with Dharm ji’. His passing is the shocking and saddest news Indian cinema could receive. Sachin is devoud of adequate words. He was fun-loving, and no moment with him was dull. He always spoke softly and lovingly… he often said, ‘Bahut pyaari hai tu.’ Whenever there was a break on set, we would play cards together. Kabhi zyada nahi jit-te the woh — he was never very good at it,” he laughed. “Dharam ji was actually quite bad at playing cards, but we had so much fun. *Ranjeet ji used to win most of the time. A gentle, loving human being. His loss is irreplaceable.”
*R Balki calls Dharmedra a ‘magnificent personality’
Filmmaker and said that “he was an Imax man even when the screen was far less than 70 mm. Truly a magnificent personality!!!”
The romantic hero who redefined handsome
Through the early 1960s, Dharmendra emerged as the new face of romance. Films like ‘Anpadh’, ‘Bandini’, and ‘Aye Din Bahar Ke’ made him the poster-boy of gentle, dignified love. His eyes performed half the acting; his silences spoke louder than dialogues; his screen presence made even the simplest moments unforgettable.
Usha Nadkarni: “The most handsome actor, I would say. A good human being and a gentle person. Though I never worked with him, I adored his work a lot. He will be missed forever.”
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Dharmendra wasn’t the flamboyant lover-boy like Shammi Kapoor or the flirtatious charmer like Dev Anand, his romance was rooted in sincerity, softness, and respect. In an era when love was shy, stolen, or unspoken, he embodied that essence perfectly.
Women wrote letters to him by the thousands. Some fan clubs kept his photographs in their homes’ prayer corners, believing he was too beautiful to be human. Film magazines of the 60s and 70s documented stories of girls fainting outside studios just to catch a glimpse of him.
The family man behind the superstar
Despite his larger-than-life image, Dharmendra remained deeply connected to his roots. His bond with his sons — Sunny and Bobby Deol — added an emotional dimension to his persona. Both sons often said their father was “half lion, half lamb”: strict about discipline, but tender-hearted at home.
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Bobby Deol in an old interview with ETimes in 2020 said: “My dad is a people’s person; he keeps communicating with everyone. I have never met anybody like him on this earth. He is my father, but even then, I haven’t met anyone so humble and down-to-earth. I’m lucky to be his son.”
His relationship with Hema Malini added complexity, passion, and timeless beauty, one of Bollywood’s most memorable love stories.
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His love for his brothers, his first wife Prakash Kaur, his daughters, and his grandchildren was well-known. There was no pretence in him, all we can say is he wore his emotions openly and proudly.
The actor who could melt hearts and shake mountains
As the 1970s arrived, Dharmendra evolved from the romantic prince into India’s undisputed action hero, the original ‘He-Man’. His versatility was breathtaking: the angry yet lovable Veeru in ‘Sholay’, the righteous inspector in ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’, the intense lover in ‘Resham Ki Dori’, and the courageous Raja in ‘Jugnu’. He moved across emotions with an ease that only he possessed, balancing power with vulnerability in a way that felt both heroic and deeply human. He charmed audiences in ‘Shikast’, broke hearts with the emotional depth of ‘Satyakam’, lit up the screen with effortless flair in ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, and defined the very meaning of superstardom with ‘Sholay’. In ‘Satyakam’ (1969), he delivered what Hrishikesh Mukherjee once described as “one of the finest performances ever by a Hindi film actor.” Many believe Dharmendra could have been India’s most decorated actor had he not been overshadowed by the magnitude of his own larger-than-life stardom.
Siddharth Jadhav: “He was charming and the most good-looking actor we had in Indian cinema. He brought bodybuilding and masculinity to films. With his charm, he redefined the hero in Bollywood. His demise is a very sad moment. He inspired generations, including children.”
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A masculine ideal for every generation
Dharmendra’s quiet masculinity, no showmanship, no sculpted gym body, no exaggerated aggression, shaped generations of Indian men. People wanted to be like him because he felt both aspirational and attainable, a rare balance few stars have ever achieved. His hairstyle, his gentle smile, and his grounded honesty became the blueprint of the “ideal man.” Stories from the 70s often filled gossip columns with anecdotes about the frenzy he inspired: bus conductors would stop buses if his song Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas played on the radio, mechanics proudly hung his posters in their garages, and tailors across North India copied his shirt collars and cuff styles for customers who wanted to look like him. Even wrestlers and bodybuilders idolised him, not for bulk, but for being strong, composed, and soft-spoken. Dharmendra wasn’t just admired; he was absorbed into everyday life, becoming a lifestyle aspiration for an entire generation.
The Crush who became a cultural memory
Dharmendra was not just a star on the screen. He was the heartbeat of a nation that fell in love with him and never stopped.
*Sushant Divgikar: “May his soul rest in peace.
*Sanjay Kapoor: “It’s the end of an era… deeply saddened.”
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Also See :- Dharmendra Passes Away | Dharmendra’s Final Farewell: Esha Deol Cries, Hema Malini Folds Hands
“Ajeet
Sometimes death makes us truly realise the persona and reach of a person. For the first time in his life, he is witnessing such immense tributary scenes across media for a Bollywood celebrity. Dharmendra deserves every bit of this love, for he was a pure soul. He managed his family relations with dignity and warmth, while at the same time keeping the outside world of admirers and fans deeply engaged. His legacy is not only in his films but also in the way he lived—with grace, strength, and a heart that touched millions.
News Edit KV Raman
