Bollywood Legend Dharmendra Dies at 89: A Life of Action, Romance, and Enduring Fame
Image Source: Internet
Bollywood legend Dharmendra passed away at his home in Mumbai on Monday, leaving behind a legacy of iconic films, memorable performances, and a devoted fan base. The actor, who had been ailing for several weeks, would have turned 90 on December 8. Born in rural Punjab to a government school teacher, Dharmendra rose to fame with his striking looks, brawny physique, and broad brush-stroked acting style, which made him the quintessential Hindi film hero. He starred in some of the most memorable films in Indian cinema, including 'Sholay', 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh', 'Haqueeqat', 'Bandini', 'Anupama', 'Mamta', 'Chupke Chupke', and many more. Dharmendra's career spanned six decades, with hits in every successive decade. He worked in over 300 films, many of them alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, and Vinod Khanna. Unlike other male superstars of his time, he worked in numerous women-centric films, happy to play the supporting role. He was also a closet poet, and his love for Urdu poetry led to his relationship with Meena Kumari, the reigning star of her time. The actor's personal life was equally captivating, with his romance with Hema Malini on a film set creating a public furore. They married in 1980 and had two daughters together, in addition to his four children from his first wife. Dharmendra's simplicity and lack of worldliness made him a beloved figure, and he was often seen spending his evenings with fight masters, reciting Urdu couplets, and playing Rummy. Throughout his career, Dharmendra continued to work in a slew of B-grade action films, sometimes working three shifts a day. He was known for his unworldliness and was often convinced to act in scenes that were later spliced and extrapolated to convey something else entirely on screen. The Deol family, including his sons Sunny and Bobby, and daughters Esha and Ahana, worked hard to maintain his reputation as a spotless star. Well before fans thronging outside homes of other Bollywood stars became a Mumbai thing, villagers from Punjab would line up outside Dharmendra's bungalow at Juhu. In his later years, he retreated to the family farm at Lonavala and became an unlikely social media star with 2.6 million followers on Instagram, where he posted about his simple farm life. Dharmendra's impact on Indian cinema will be remembered for generations to come. His legacy extends beyond his films to his enduring fame, which followed him right to the end.
