Dharmendra remained a top Hindi film star for three decades creating an influential image as a markedly North Indian (Punjabi) macho man devoted to his mother and committed to upholding the honour of his family or the village.

He was born Dharam Singh Deol in Phagwara, Punjab and was fascinated with films right from childhood, often travelling miles to frequent the touring cinema. (He remembers going to see Dillagi (1949) starring Suraiya at least 40 times!). He was married at the age of 19 and took up a job with an American Drilling Company boring tubewells. Fortunately for him, he was noticed in a Filmfare spot-the-talent contest and came to Bombay to become an actor. He was signed by Arjun Hingorani for Dil Bhi Tera, Hum Bhi Tere (1960), his first film as hero for Rs 51 as signing amount and a daily breakfast that was to contain strictly of tea, two toasts and butter but no jam! Ironically, after all the struggle he went unrecognized at the premiere of the film and sneaked back home on a train.

However strong, supporting romantic lead roles in women oriented films like Anpadh (1962) with Mala Sinha, Bandini (1963) and Soorat Aur Seerat (1963), both with Nutan brought Dharmendra to the fore. A liaison with Meena Kumari saw the two of them starring together in a series of films.

Phool Aur Patthar (1966) finally made Dharmendra into a star. As the ruffian Shaka, Dharmendra combined muscles and sensitivity to give Shaka a human touch. And when he whipped off his shirt in the film, for the first time Hindi filmmakers woke up to the need to cater to female sexuality. In one of the most sensuous scenes in Hindi films, Dharmendra leans over a sleeping Meena Kumari only to finally cover her up.

Most of Dharmendra’s earlier films were soft romantic films, many of which presented a secularized Hindustani version of Bengali literary stereotypes, starting with Bimal Roy’s Bandini and continuing with Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s 60s socials – Anupama (1966), Manjhli Didi (1967) and Satyakam (1969). He mainly played the nice, romantic, handsome hero and was in fact voted as one of the five most good-looking men in the world in the 1960s.

Satyakam saw Dharmendra giving perhaps his greatest ever performance as an idealist seeing his dreams crumble after Indian Independence. It was a sensitive, nuanced performance of an honest, committed man who perseveres with his philosophy of total truth even when it brings about his downfall and one that was straight from the heart. The scene in which he is dying where he just had to emote with his eyes as his estranged father berates him, represent some of the the finest moments in Dharmendra’s acting career.

The 1970s saw Dharmendra take to the action genre like a fish to water. (The seeds of this were seen earlier in films like Aankhein (1968), a James Bond style thriller following the success of Phool Aur Patthar) He was prefect as the pistol packing hero threatening the villain – No one could tell the villain, “Kaminey, Main Tera Khoon Pee Jaoonga!” more convincingly than ‘Garam Dharam!’ Films like Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), Jugnu (1973), Kahani Kismet Ki (1973), Yaadon ki Baraat (1973) and Sholay (1975) swept the box-office largely due to Dharmendra’s brawn show!

Sholay (1975) and Chupke Chupke (1975) revealed another facet of Dharmendra – his flair for comedy. Even though the former was a large scale action drama, Dharmendra’s comic scenes with Hema Malini – feeling her up on the pretext of teaching her how to fire a gun or speaking to her as the ‘voice of God’ or of course his ‘soo-cide’ scene with her aunt, him atop a water tank and threatening to jump if she didn’t marry her niece to him – were among the many highlights of the film. And Chupke Chupke saw him single-handedly carry Hrishida’s whacky comedy of a botany professor who impersonates a driver to spend some precious time with his wife at her brother-in-law’s place! It is a masterful performance with razor sharp comic timing.

Dharmendra also formed a hugely successful pairing with Hema Malini, the two of them doing a string of hit films together – Naya Zamana (1971), Raja Jani (1972), Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Jugnu, Dost (1974) and Sholay among others. They fell in love and Hema became his second wife. Dharmendra and Hema went on to have children as well but so strong was her morally upright image that she was able to go through the marriage without being slandered by press or public which in fact more than accepted the union.

The ‘Garam Dharam‘ act was perfected in the 1980s by Hindi filmmakers as Dharmendra was cast as the invincible hero bearing colloquial names like Veeru Dada, Hathoda Singh or Sherdil who was locked in mortal combat with the villain. But his films were largely undistinguished and of poor quality even if a couple did score at the box-office. (Aag hi Aag (1987), Hukumat (1987))

In fact, among Dharmendra’s later films in the 1980s and 90s, his work with director J.P. Dutta stands out – Ghulami (1985), Yateem (1988), Batwara (1989), Hathyar (1989) and Kshatriya(1992). The films barring Hathyar were mainly set in feudal Rajasthan featuring conflicts among the Jats and the Thakur Zamindars with Dharmendra usually playing a powerful charismatic leader who unites the people against the oppressive thakurs.

Dharmendra has successfully launched both his sons Sunny (Betaab (1983)) and Bobby (Barsaat (1995)) as leading men and today his daughter from Hema Malini, Esha Deol, is on the verge of becoming a successfull actress. Though he shockingly won no major awards throughout his entire career, Dharmendra was awarded the Filmfare Life Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian Cinema.

Awards Received By Dharmendra

National Film Awards
1990 – National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for Ghayal (producer)

Filmfare Awards

1965 Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award Ayee Milan Ki Bela Nominated
1967 Filmfare Award for Best Actor Phool Aur Patthar Nominated
1972 Filmfare Award for Best Actor Mera Gaon Mera Desh Nominated
1974 Filmfare Award for Best Actor Yaadon Ki Baaraat Nominated
1975 Filmfare Award for Best Actor Resham Ki Dori Nominated
1984 Filmfare Best Comedian Award Naukar Biwi Ka Nominated
1997 Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award Contribution to Indian Cinema Won

Films done By Dharmendra

Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960) … Ashok
Shola Aur Shabnam (1961) … Bunnu
Boy Friend (1961) … Inspector Sunil Singh
Soorat Aur Seerat (1962)
Anpadh (1962) … Deepak M. Nath
Shaadi (1962) … Ramesh R. Malhotra
Bandini (1963) … Dr. Devendra
Begaana (1963) … Prakash
Pooja Ke Phool (1964) … Balraj ‘Raj’
Mera Qasoor Kya Hai (1964)
Haqeeqat (1964) … Captain Bahadur Singh
Ganga Ki Lahren (1964) … Ashok
Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964) … Ranjit
Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964) … Chandramohan Chopra ‘Channi’
Main Bhi Ladki Hoon (1964) … Ram
Purnima (1965) … Prakash
Neela Aakash (1965) … Aakash
Kaajal (1965) … Rajesh
Chand Aur Suraj (1965) … Surajprakash A. Malik / Suraj
Akashdeep (1965)
Phool Aur Patthar (1966) … Shakti Singh / Shaaka
Mohabbat Zindagi Hai (1966) … Amar
Mamta (1966) … Barrister Indraneel
Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966) … Ashok
Devar (1966) … Shankar J. Rai / Bhola
Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) … Jitendra ‘Jiten’ Gupta
Anupama (1966) … Ashok
Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966) … Ravi
Majhli Didi (1967) … Bipinchandra ‘Bipin’
Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai (1967)
Ghar Ka Chirag (1967)
Dulhan Ek Raat Ki (1967) … Ashok
Chandan Ka Palna (1967) … Ajit
Shikar (1968) … Ajay Singh
Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) … Sunil
Izzat (1968) … Shekhar / Dilip P. Singh (Double Role)
Baharon Ki Manzil (1968) … Dr. Rajesh Khanna
Baazi (1968) … D. S. P. Ajay
Ankhen (1968) … Sunil
Yakeen (1969) … Rajesh / Jackoss (Double Role)
Satyakam (1969) … Satyapriya ‘Satya’ Acharya
Pyar Hi Pyar (1969) … Vijay Pratap
Khamoshi (1969) … Dev (Patient No. 24) (Guest Appearance)
The Gold Medal (1969) … Acharya (Guest Appearance)
Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke … Jaishankar ‘Jai’
Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) … Munish Mehra
Man Ki Aankhen (1970) … Rajesh Agarwal
Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970) … Sunil
Sharafat (1970) … Rajesh
Mera Naam Joker (1970) … Mahendra Singh
Soldier Thakur Daler Singh (1970)
Kankan De Ole (1970) … Banta Singh
Kab Kyoo Aur Kahan (1970) … C. I. D. Inspector Anand
Jeevan Mrityu (1970) … Ashok Tandon / Vikram Singh
Ishq Par Zor Nahin (1970) … Ram
Jeevitha Samaram (1971) Malayalam Movie
Rakhwala (1971) … Deepak
Naya Zamana (1971) … Anoop
Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971) … Ajit
Guddi (1971) Dharmendra Himself
Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) … Raka
Samadhi (1972) … Lakhan Singh / Jaswant Singh / Ajay (Double Role)
Raja Jani (1972) … Rajkumar Singh ‘Raja’
Lalkar (1972) … Major Ram Kapoor
Do Chor (1972) … Tony
Anokha Milan (1972) … Ghanshyam “Ghana”
Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) … Shankar
Phagun (1973) … Gopal
Keemat (1973) … Gopal (Agent 116)
Kahani Kismat Ki (1973) … Ajit Sharma
Jugnu (1973) … Ashok Roy / Jugnu
Black Mail (1973) … Kailash Gupta
Loafer … Ranjit
Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973) … Sameer Rai
Jwaar Bhata (1973) … Balraj Prasad ‘Billoo’
Resham Ki Dori (1974) … Ajit Singh
Patthar Aur Payal (1974) … Ranjit Singh
Pocket Maar (1974) … Shankar
Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1974)
Do Sher (1974)
Dost (1974) … Maanav
International Crook (1974) … Shekhar
Teri Meri Ik Jindri (1975)
Saazish (1975) … Jaideep ‘Jai’
Pratigya (1975) … Inspector Devendra Singh / Ajit D. Singh (Double Role)
Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja (1975) … Balram
Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka (1975) … Vishal
Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty (1975) … Madman
Chupke Chupke (1975) … Dr. Parimal Tripathi / Pyare Mohan
Chaitali (1975)
Apne Dushman (1975) … Brijesh
Sholay (1975) … Veeru
Santo Banto (1976)
Charas (1976) … Suraj Kumar
Maa (1976) … Vijay
Tinku (1977)
Swami (1977)
Kinara (1977)
Aaina (1977) … Guest App
Khel Khiladi Ka (1977) … Shaki Lutera / Raja Saab / Ajit
Dream Girl (1977) … Anupam Verma
Do Chehere (1977) … Kanwar Pran (Drunkard) / C.I.D. S.P. Shukla
Dharam Veer (1977) … Dharam Singh
Charandas (1977)
Chala Murari Hero Banne (1977)
Chacha Bhatija (1977) … Shankar
Giddha (1978) … Banta
Shalimar / Raiders of Shalimar (1978) … S.S. Kumar
Phandebaaz (1978)
Dillagi (1978)
Azaad (1978) … Ashok (Azaad)
Dil Kaa Heera (1979)
Kartavya (1979)
Chunaoti (1980) … Shakti Singh (Special Appearance)
Ram Balram (1980) … Ram
The Burning Train (1980) … Ashok Singh
Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1980) … Alibaba
Insaaf Ka Tarazu (1980) … Soldier (Guest Appearance)
Professor Pyarelal (1981) … Ram / Professor Pyarelal
Krodhi (1981) … Vikramjit Singh (Vicky) / Acharya Shradhanand
Katilon Ke Kaatil (1981) … Ajit / Badshah
Aas Paas (1981) … Arun Choudhury
Naseeb (1981) … Himself in a Song (Special Appearance)
Teesri Aankh (1982) … Ashok
Samraat (1982) … Ram
Main Intequam Loonga (1982) … Kumar Agnihotri ‘Bitto’
Ghazab (1982) … Ajay Singh ‘Munna’ / Vijay Singh (Double Role)
Do Dishayen (1982)
Baghavat (1982) … Amar Singh
Badle Ki Aag (1982) … Sher Singh ‘Shera’ / Jaggu
Rajput (1982) … Manu Pratap Singh
Ambri (1983) … Dharam Singh
Putt Jattan De (1983) … Chaudhary Dharam Singh (Punjabi film)
Razia Sultan (1983) … Yakut Jamaluddin
Naukar Biwi Ka (1983) … Deepak Kumar / Raja
Jaani Dost (1983) … Raju
Andhaa Kaanoon (1983) … Truck Driver (Guest Appearance)
Qayamat (1983) … Shyam / Rajeshwar
Sunny (1984) … Indrajeet
Ranjhan Mera Yaar (1984) (Punjabi film)
Raaj Tilak (1984) … Zoravar Singh
Jeene Nahi Doonga (1984) … Roshan / Raka (Double Role)
Jagir (1984) … Shankar
Dharam Aur Kanoon (1984) … Rahim Khan
Baazi (1984) … Inspector Ajay Sharma
Insaaf Kaun Karega (1984) … Veeru
Jhutha Sach (1984)
Rajhan Mera Yaar (Punjabi Film) (1984)
Karishma Kudrat Kaa (1985) … Vijay / Karan (Double Role)
Ghulami (1985) … Ranjit Singh
Sitamgar (1985) … Sonu / Shankar
Saveray Wali Gaadi (1986) Sher Singh (Guest Appearance)
Mohabbat Ki Kasam (1986) … Shop-Owner
Main Balwan (1986) … Inspector / D. C. P. Chaudhary
Sultanat (1986) … General Khalid
Mit Jayenge Mitane Wale (1987)
Watan Ke Rakhwale (1987) Mahavir
Mera Karam Mera Dharam (1987) … Ajay Shankar Sharma
Mard Ki Zabaan (1987) … Laxman Chauhan
Insaaf Ki Pukar (1987) … Vijay Singh
Dadagiri (1987) … Dharma Dada
Aag Hi Aag (1987) … Bahadur Singh / Sher Singh
Superman (1987) … Superman’s Dad (Guest Appearance)
Insaniyat Ke Dushman (1987) … Inspector Shekhar Kapoor
Loha (1987) … Inspector Amar
Hukumat (1987) … Inspector Arjun Singh
Jaan Hatheli Pe (1987) … Soni
Zalzala (1988) … Inspector Shiv Kumar
Soorma Bhopali (1988) … Mahendra Singh / Dharmendra Himself (Double Role)
Sone Pe Suhaaga (1988) … Vikram / C. B. I. Officer Ashwini Kumar
Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988) … Balwant / Karamveer / Teesri Adalat
Mardon Wali Baat (1988) … Yadvinder Singh
Mahaveera (1988) … Ajay Verma
Paap Ko Jalaa Kar Raakh Kar Doonga (1988) … Shankar
Ganga Tere Desh Mein (1988) … Vijay Nath
Sachai Ki Taqat (1989) … Constable Ram Singh
Nafrat Ki Aandhi (1989) … Sonu
Hathyar (1989) … Khushal Khan
Kasam Suhaag Ki (1989)
Ilaaka (1989) … Inspector Dharam Verma (Special Appearance)
Batwara (1989) … Sumer Singh
Elaan-E-Jung (1989)
Sikka (1989) … Vijay
Shehzaade (1989) … Subedhar Zorawar Singh / Inspector Shankar Shrivastav (Double Role)
Veeru Dada (1990) … Veeru Dada (Siddhartha Narbarity)
Vardi (1990) … Havaldar Bhagwan Singh (Special Appearance)
Qurbani Jatt Di (1990)
Pyaar Ka Karz (1990)
Nakabandi (1990)
Humse Na Takrana (1990)
Trinetra (1991) … Raja (Special Appearance)
Mast Kalandar (1991)
Kohraam (1991)
Farishtay (1991) … Veeru
Paap Ki Aandhi (1991) … Dharma / Mangal (Double Role)
Dushman Devta (1991) … Shiva
Zulm Ki Hukumat (1992) … Pitamber Kohli
Waqt Ka Badshah (1992)
Tahalka (1992) EX Major Dharam Singh
Virodhi (1992) … Inspector Shekhar
Khule-Aam (1992) … Shiva
Humlaa (1992) … Bhawani
Kal Ki Awaz (1992)
Agnee Morcha (1993)
Aag Ka Toofan (1993) Karan / Dharam (Double Role)
Kundan (1993)
Kshatriya (1993) … Maharaj Prthivi Singh (Surjangarh)
Maha Shaktishaali (1994)
Juaari (1994) … Police Inspector Dharam Singh
Dillagi… Yeh Dillagi (1994)
Policewala Gunda (1995) … A.C.P. Ajit Singh
Maidan-E-Jung (1995) … Shankar
Aazmayish (1995) … Shanker Singh Rathod
Taaqat (1995) … Shakti Singh
Hum Sab Chor Hain (1995)
Fauji (1995)
Veer (1995) … Veeru Bhaiya / Veer (Double Role)
Smuggler (1996)
Return of Jewel Thief (1996) … Police Commissioner Surya Dev Singh
Himmatvar (1996) … Sultan
Aatank (1996) … Jesu
Mafia (1996) … Fauji Ajit Singh
Loha (1997) … Shankar
Jeeo Shaan Se (1997) … Bramha / Vishnu / Mahesh (Triple Role)
Gundagardi (1997)
Agnee Morcha (1997)
Dharma Karma (1997) … Dharma
Jeeo Shaan Se (1997) … Dharma
Hamaara Faisla (1998) – swaroop pictures
Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998) … Thakur Ajay Singh (Chacha)
Zulm O Situm (1998) … SP. Arun
Nyaydaata (1999) … DCP Ram
Munnibai (1999)
Lohpurush (1999)
Sultaan (2000) … Sultan Singh (Extended Special Appearance)
Dacait (2000)
The Revenge: Geeta Mera Naam (2000) … Baba Thakur
Meri Jung Ka Elaan (2000) … Ajit Singh
Kaali Ki Saugandh (2000) … Sultan Singh
Jallad No. 1 (2000) … Shankar
Daku Kali Bhawani (2000) … Bhawani Pratap
Bhai Thakur (2000)
Shiva Ka Insaaf (2001 film)
Jagira (2001)
Saugandh Geeta Ki (2001)
Zakhmi Sherni (2001)
Bhooka Sher (2001) … Ranbir Singh
Ek Lootere (2001) … Iqbal
Reshma aur Sultan (2002)
Border Kashmir (2002)
Kaise Kahoon Ke… Pyaar Hai (2003) … Dharam
Tada (2003) … Balraj Singh Rana
Sabse Badi Ganga Ki Saugandh (2004) (Guest Appearance)
Hum Kaun Hai? (2004) … Virendra ‘Viru’ (Guest Appearance)
Kis Kis Ki Kismat (2004) … Hasmukh Mehta
Life in a… Metro (2007) … Amol
Apne (2007) … Baldev Singh Chaudhary
Johnny Gaddaar (2007) … Sheshadri
Om Shanti Om (2007) … Himself in song Deewangi Deewangi
Apne (2008) … Dharm Singh
Har Pal (2009) … Baba
Yamala Pagla Deewana (2011) … Dharam Singh Dhillon
Tell Me O Kkhuda (2011) … Tony Costello
Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013) … Dharam Singh Dhillon
Dusman Ke Khoon Paani Ha (2014)
Singh Saab the Great (2013) … Cameo in song ‘Daru Band Kal Se’
Double Di Trouble (2014) … Ajit / Manjit (Double Role)
Second Hand Husband (2015) … Ajit Singh
Jora 10 Numbaria (2015) … Jagga Baba
Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se (2018) … Jaywant Parmar
Shimla Mirchi (2020)… as Foreign Minister
Jora: The Second Chapter (2020) …