When India’s handsomest actor Dharmendra turned a young sprightly 89 on December 8 last year, his fans and well-wishers kept him busy throughout the day.
This writer had finally caught up with one of the most affable human beings in the entertainment industry late in the evening when Dharamji was exhausted. “But how can I not take your call even if I’m tired? You’ve always been so warm and loving, not only to me but also to Hema. My birthday wouldn’t be complete without your good wishes,” said Dharamji.
The only other actor who had the ability to make me feel so special was Dev Anand. Dev Saab is gone. I miss him.
“I was down with dengue for a while. Now there’s just some pain in my knees. Otherwise I am fine. I forced the dengue out of my knees,” Dharamji joked.
Always, that perfect comic timing. Remember Chupke Chupke, Pratiggya and Yamla Pagla Deewana?
Dharamji confessed he misses the camera. “I belong in front of the camera. I finally did a film (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani) after some time. My fans and well-wishers miss me. Unke pyar ne mujhe zinda rakha hai. They’re my oxygen.”
I remind him of how much positivity and joy he spreads by just being himself.
Laughing shyly, Dharamji said, “God sent me down here to spread happiness, to put smiles on as many faces as possible during my lifetime. When you say I’ve succeeded in doing that, I feel my life is fulfilled. I can’t thank the Almighty up there and my well-wishers down here enough for all the love that I get. If I’ve been able to give back even a fraction of that love that I’ve got, I am a happy man.”
I asked Dharamji about his unfulfilled dreams, and he said, “I want to see every human being freed of pain. I want to see diseases, corruption and discrimination eliminated from our country. You say it’s impossible? I’ve always dreamt of the impossible. I was a boy from a small village in Punjab. Who would have thought I’d be loved by everyone?”
Does Dharamji have any favourite films from his oeuvre? “So many… They’re all special. But Hrishida’s (Hrishikesh Mukherjee)’s Anupama, Satyakam and Chupke Chupke were special.”
Coincidentally, his co-star in all the three favourite films was Sharmila Tagore who is born on the same day as Dharamji.
So, is Sharmila Tagore his favourite co-star?
“One of my favourites. But my most favourite co-star is Hema,” he said shyly.
Also Read: “Marey unke dushman,” Shatrughan Sinha on his best friend Dharmendra’s death reports
The post Dharmendra in a throwback interview: “I want to see diseases, corruption and discrimination eliminated from our country” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
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