Legendary Bollywood star Dharmendra would have turned 90 today, and fans across the country are remembering the actor’s unforgettable charm and iconic films. On this special occasion, veteran writer Javed Akhtar shared some interesting memories about the star, including his initial hesitation to sign the iconic film ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’.
Javed Akhtar reveals Dharmendra’s initial hesitation for ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’
In a recent chat with SCREEN, Javed Akhtar revealed that Dharmendra, already a superstar, was cautious about doing a film where the heroine, Hema Malini, played the main role.He said, “I must tell you that Dharamji was a bit reluctant to work in Seeta and Geeta. It was an out-and-out heroine film. There was a double role for the heroine, and there were two heroes. Dharamji was too big during that time to do a film where Hema Malini was the hero. But he was kind enough to give us his time for Seeta Aur Geeta.”
Dharmendra balanced humour with serious emotion
Javed Akhtar spoke about Dharmendra’s role in the film, which mixed comedy with serious moments. “He had a very funny role. But there were some serious and poignant moments also when he is drunk, and he talks about his loneliness and so on,” he said.
Javed Akhtar highlights Dharmendra’s role in ‘Sholay ’
Reflecting on their collaboration in ‘Sholay’, Javed Akhtar explained that Dharmendra was always the obvious choice for Veeru. He said, “So it was taken for granted that he would be there in Sholay. There was no doubt that no one else would play Veeru. But who will play Jai’s role? There were many contenders, including Shatrughan Sinha and Raj Kumar.“
Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s iconic film pairing
Not just ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’ and ‘Sholay’ Dharmendra and Hema Malini did many films together and became one of Bollywood’s most memorable on-screen couples. After films like ‘Sharafat’, ‘Tum Haseen Main Jawan’, ‘Naya Zamana’, ‘Raja Jani’, ‘Jugnu’, ‘Patthar Aur Payal’, ‘Pratigya’, and ‘Sholay’, they earned their place as the “hit jodi” of Hindi cinema.
Hema Malini pens heartfelt note
On Dharmendra’s 90th birthday, Hema Malini shared pictures and a heartfelt note remembering him.She wrote, “Dharam ji. Happy birthday my dear heart. More than two weeks have passed since you left me heartbroken, slowly gathering up the pieces and trying to reconstruct my life, knowing that you will always be with me in spirit.”She added, “The joyful memories of our life together can never be erased and just reliving those moments brings me great solace and happiness. I thank God for our lovely years together, for our two beautiful girls who reaffirm our love for each other and for all the beautiful, happy memories that will remain with me in my heart.”She concluded, “On your birthday, my prayers for God to grant you the wealth of peace and happiness that you richly deserve for your humility and goodness of heart and your love for humanity. Happy birthday dear love.”Even decades later, Dharmendra’s films, performances, and pairing with Hema Malini continue to be celebrated. From comedy to emotion, his charm and talent left a lasting impact on Bollywood and millions of fans worldwide.
