That Eric Alper

There are stars, and then there are legends who shape the very language of cinema. Dharmendra belonged to that rare group whose presence on screen created its own energy. His performances carried the warmth of an entire era, the charm of a true leading man, and the spirit of Hindi cinema at its most vibrant. His impact stretched across genres, decades, and generations. Here are 50 things you may not have known about the one and only Dharmendra.

Dharmendra was born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol in Punjab in 1935.

He grew up in Sahnewal, where his father worked as a school headmaster.

He completed his matriculation in Phagwara in 1952.

He won Filmfare magazine’s national talent contest before moving to Mumbai.

His film debut came in 1960 with the romantic drama ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’.

His first major success arrived with ‘Shola Aur Shabnam’ in 1961.

He earned early acclaim for roles in ‘Anpadh’ and ‘Bandini’.

His breakthrough performance came with ‘Ayee Milan Ki Bela’ in 1964.

He played a key role in the war film ‘Haqeeqat’, based on the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

The patriotic song “Kar Chale Ham Fida” from ‘Haqeeqat’ became widely celebrated.

His 1966 film ‘Phool Aur Patthar’ marked a major turning point in his career.

He received his first Best Actor nomination for ‘Phool Aur Patthar’.

The year 1966 featured several of his hits, including ‘Mamta’ and ‘Anupama’.

He performed a memorable double role in ‘Izzat’ in 1968.

He maintained strong box office popularity during the rise of Rajesh Khanna.

His 1969 release ‘Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke’ became a superhit.

His performance in ‘Satyakam’ is often cited as one of his finest.

He rose to superstardom in the early 1970s with a streak of massive blockbusters.

He formed a beloved on-screen pairing with Hema Malini.

His film ‘Jeevan Mrityu’ became one of the top earners of 1970.

He appeared in Raj Kapoor’s ‘Mera Naam Joker’, now regarded as a classic.

His image as an action hero gained momentum with ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’.

He earned his second Best Actor nomination for ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’.

He starred in hits like ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, ‘Raja Jani’ and ‘Samadhi’ in 1972.

He topped Bollywood’s box office rankings between 1972 and 1975.

His 1973 action film ‘Loafer’ became a major musical and commercial success.

He starred in the hugely popular ‘Jugnu’, which performed well in India and the Soviet Union.

The soundtrack of ‘Jugnu’ became widely loved by audiences.

He appeared in ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’, considered the first masala film of Bollywood.

The song “Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas” from ‘Blackmail’ remains iconic.

His film ‘Dost’ with Shatrughan Sinha became a major success in 1974.

He continued his strong run with films like ‘Patthar Aur Payal’ and ‘Resham Ki Dori’.

He starred in the beloved comedy ‘Chupke Chupke’ in 1975.

He played Veeru in the legendary film ‘Sholay’.

‘Sholay’ became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

He starred in the successful action drama ‘Pratiggya’ in the same year.

He reunited with Ramanand Sagar for the hit film ‘Charas’ in 1976.

He appeared in multiple hits throughout 1977, including ‘Dharam Veer’.

‘Dharam Veer’ broke records internationally, especially in the UK and the Soviet Union.

He continued delivering major hits through the late 1970s and early 1980s.

His ensemble action film ‘The Burning Train’ gained cult status.

He starred alongside Amitabh Bachchan again in ‘Ram Balram’.

He delivered five commercial successes in 1982 alone.

His 1983 film ‘Naukar Biwi Ka’ became a hit with wide audience appeal.

He played a major role in the superhit ‘Ghulami’ in 1985.

He continued strong box office success with ‘Hukumat’ and ‘Aag Hi Aag’.

He delivered seven successful films in 1987, a rare milestone for any actor.

He transitioned into admired character roles from the late 1990s onward.

He received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.