Dharmendra: How the most handsome star of Hindi cinema is also a versatile & vulnerable actor

Dharmendra has an experience of over six decades in front of the camera. The moment the name appears or arrives or is even heard, we think of a solid man, the son of the soil, a man with fists of iron and heart of gold. And someone with a tough exterior. But given the actor and his relentless spirit to contribute to Hindi cinema, he is the most vulnerable of the artists who blows the celluloid with his spectacularly vociferous and versatile performances. Dharmendra is more than just An Action Hero.

His 1969 film Satyakam directed by the maverick Hrishikesh Mukherjee spoke about a man who gets married to a woman who was a victim of sexual assault. But he’s unable to come to terms with their child. It’s a film that exposes the dark and grim realities of a decaying society, ultimately showing not much will change as decades pass by. In Gazab, an underrated moniker in his sprawling filmography, the He Man of Hindi cinema essays the role of a mentally challenged with elan and ease.

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Dharmendra is effortless in the comic space as well. Reuniting with Hrishikesh Mukherjee for the 1975 Chupke Chupke, the actor shows his softer and sillier (in good ways) side and proved he can make someone smile and not just break his bones. Sholay of course was the biggest blockbuster of his career. And then juggernauts like Dharam Veer, Hukumat, and Tahalka. As years passed by, the rage remained intact and so did the rousing and robust performances.

2007 is one of the most intriguing years for the veteran star as he dabbled with different worlds and characters- Johnny Gaddaar, a terrific thriller bathed in pure Bollywood pulp that’s gone missing in the narratives today. He blended effortlessly with the classic storytelling of the idiosyncratic Sriram Raghavan. He also did the heartfelt Life In A Metro by Anurag Basu. And the tearjerking Apne by Anil Sharma, with whom he always delivered money spinners.

His next release will be Raghavan’s Ikkis.