As Dharmendra recovers in hospital, revisit the untold stories of the Bollywood legend — from his school days and secret marriage to rare film trivia and his bond with Hema Malini
Mumbai: Bollywood’s original “He-Man” Dharmendra is once again in the headlines — this time for his health. The 89-year-old icon, admitted to Breach Candy Hospital after complaints of breathlessness, remains stable and recovering, according to his daughter Esha Deol, who has also urged fans to ignore false death rumours spreading online.
With wife Hema Malini calling out fake news and sons Sunny and Bobby Deol standing by him, the moment feels like a pause — a time to celebrate the man behind the myth.
As Dharmendra approaches his 90th birthday on December 8, here’s a journey through ten moments that reveal the human, humorous, and heartfelt side of the superstar India fell in love with.
1. A Schoolboy Who Ran From the Cane
Before he became Bollywood’s tough guy, Dharmendra was a mischievous kid in Nasrali village, Punjab, dreading the school bell. His father, a schoolteacher, was stricter with him than anyone else — and young Dharam had had enough.
He dropped out after Class V to help on the family farm. Years later, when he won the 1959 Filmfare Talent Hunt, his mother reminded him, “You ran away from class — but destiny never stopped teaching you.
2. Converted to Islam for Second Marriage
His marriage to Hema Malini in 1980 remains one of Bollywood’s most emotional love stories. Already married to Prakash Kaur, Dharmendra chose a quiet conversion to Islam and a nikah at Bandstand Mosque to make his union with Hema official.
The world found out much later — but the relationship endured, weathering judgment and gossip to become a partnership that’s lasted 45 years and counting.
3. Paid Crew ₹20 to Extend Hugs with Hema Malini
It’s the kind of story only Dharmendra could pull off. During Sholay’s famous train-track scene with Hema Malini, the actor allegedly bribed light boys with ₹20 each to deliberately spoil takes — just to extend a hug.
Thirteen retakes later, Veeru’s love for Basanti had more authenticity than any script could write.
4. Meena Kumari: The Star Who Shaped His Soul
Before Hema, there was Meena Kumari — mentor, co-star, and emotional compass. Their connection during films like Phool Aur Patthar and Main Bhi Ladki Hoon gave Dharmendra not just acting lessons, but life lessons. She taught him to “feel the silence between words.”
Their bond helped him evolve from a handsome face into a soulful performer.
5. The Birthday Bond With Sharmila Tagore
Fate loves a little symmetry: both Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore share December 8 as their birthday. Over 10 films together — including Anupama and Chupke Chupke — they built a friendship that outlasted decades. “We’d cut cakes quietly, no flashbulbs, just laughter,” Sharmila once recalled.
6. Record of 7 Box Office Hits in One Year
In an era when actors were lucky to score one hit a year, Dharmendra delivered seven in 1987 — from Loha to Hukumat. No other Hindi film star has matched that streak since. His formula was simple: “Do your stunts, speak your truth, respect the audience.
7.The Hero Who Let Women Lead
Long before “female-centric cinema” became fashionable, Dharmendra stood beside powerhouse actresses like Nutan and Suchitra Sen, letting them drive the story. In Bandini, he quietly held his space — no macho posturing, no ego. “When your co-star shines,” he once said, “the film wins.”
8. Man Who Never Forgot His Friends
To Dharmendra, loyalty mattered more than money. He worked free for many directors who had backed him in his struggling days — including Arjun Hingorani, who gave him his debut. “He believed in me when no one else did,” the actor often said. Over five decades, that loyalty helped create a bond of trust rare in the film industry.
9. Signed an Avant-Garde Film That Was Shelved
In 1983, Dharmendra surprised everyone by signing Sai Paranjpye’s offbeat satire Bichchoo with Shabana Azmi. The film promised to show a more experimental side of him, but it was shelved due to budget troubles. Decades later, his son Bobby made a thriller of the same name — perhaps unknowingly honouring a story that never got told.
10. The Only Kiss in 300 Films
Dharmendra built his career on charm, not kisses. But in Dushman Devta (1991), at age 55, he broke his no-romance-after-40 rule for a brief lip-lock with Dimple Kapadia. Fans were stunned. His reaction? “It was part of the character — that’s all.” A professional to the end.
Today, when he’s not on screen, Dharmendra spends his mornings walking through his Lonavala farmhouse, tending to cattle and writing poetry. His verses often echo his journey — a small-town dreamer who rose to legendary status, yet never lost his humility.
As prayers pour in for his recovery, one thing is certain: Dharmendra isn’t just a star — he’s an emotion India grew up with. His laughter, tears, and timeless dialogue deliveries live on in the collective memory of every moviegoer who ever cheered for the man who made masculinity tender.
FAQs About Dharmendra
He is stable and responding to treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, as per family updates.
Born December 8, 1935, he turned 89 in 2024. His 90th birthday will be celebrated on December 8, 2025. Post-hospitalization, he’s recovering steadily.
To marry Hema Malini in 1980 without divorcing Prakash Kaur, leveraging Islamic polygamy laws; he briefly became “Dilawar Khan.”
Six: From first marriage—Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta, Ajeeta; from second—Esha, Ahana. Many are actors (Sunny, Bobby, Esha).
Yes, selectively—recently in Rocky Aur Rani (2023) and upcoming Apne 2; he prefers meaningful roles over quantity.
He bribed Sholay crew for longer Hema hugs; holds seven 1987 hits record; owns a poetry book and Lonavala farm.
Meena Kumari, via romantic and professional guidance in 1960s films, honing his poetic acting style.
