Goodbye, Dharmendra! The 'Jat Yamla' leaves a timeless legacy

As people’s man and actor Dharmendra passes away into eternity, the world remembers a legend, a he-man, undisputable superstar who ruled the marquee for decades. An actor of over 300 films, voted in the handsomest actors’ list several times impressed as much as in his younger days in films like Anupama and Satyakam as in his latest innings. Lately seen in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani, he is also part of Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis playing a poignant part. But I remember the late actor as a fellow Punjabi.

Also read: Dharmendra, 'He-Man' of Bollywood, dies at 89 after prolonged illness

In Chandigarh for a press conference, as zealous public relations professionals guarded him and would not let press photographers in, he boomed, “Allow them inside, unka haq banta hai mere par.” That was the quintessential Punjabi in him, who never forgot his roots or the debt he owed to his janam bhhomi and hence to his Punjabi brethren. Even in his heydays in the seventies and eighties, his home was an open house where folks from his village were always welcome for a hearty meal.

Born on December 8, 1935, as Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol in Nasrali, a village in Ludhiana district, Punjab, here was an actor of vast range and versatility. Much before his impeccable comic timing was discovered, he showcased a rare intensity of an actor who understood sublimation was art. In movies like Satyakam, Anupama and Phool Aur Patthar, restraint was his USP. Yes, in movies like Pratigya with exuberant songs like Mein Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana, he did go over the top but also landed on the top of the box-office.

The hit Jodi of Dharmendra and Hema Malini (his second wife) ruled the box office in film after film. But if box-office success was well within his grasp, the big awards somehow eluded this Padma Bhushan recipient. His sons especially Bobby Deol righty feels that as far as accolades go, perhaps his malleable and amiable father never got his real due. The actor himself felt the same for the entire Deol family but the success of his son Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2 and Bobby’s new found resurgence as well his own appearances in movies like Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani gladdened his heart.

On his daughter Esha Deol’s presence in films, the actor would often strike a patriarchal note and was rather old school. But his straightforward honesty could never be questioned. Any wonder, he thrived on the love of fans and would often confess how he loved camera and likewise camera serenaded him. Back in time, love for cinema beckoned when he watched Dilip Kumar’s Shaheed and felt he too belonged to this ethereal world. Later viewers would reciprocate the feeling and felt Dharmendra belonged to them.

He made his acting debut with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere in 196O. The film may have flopped, but as he found his feet with Anpadh, Phool Aur Patthar, Haqeeqat, Aai Milan Ki Bela and more, he secured a firm place in Hindi film industry. In Sholay his boisterous and sincere Veeru gave us an eternal emblem of friendship, in timeless comedy Chupke Chupke his Pyaare Mohan act will continue to bring smiles on viewers’ faces.

The actor of movies like Yamla Pagla Deewana felt comedy came easily to him. And so did bombastic dialogues like ‘Kutte, kaminey, main tera khoon pee jaunga’ ( Yaadon Ki Baaraat) ‘Basanti in kutton ke saamne mat naachna’ (Sholay) which were in sync with his action hero image, but sadly often clouded his real contribution and achievements.

His love for Urdu poetry exemplified the sensitive man that he was. Romantic hero, action hero…. different phases saw him in different avatars. In Blackmail, he looked dapper as a head over heels lover. In 2007, in Anurag Basu’s Life in Metro, his romantic shade was rediscovered in a track with Nafisa Ali that showed how love knows no age. Ditto in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur… where he got to not only romance Shabana Azmi but also shared a kiss with her. Needless to add, Internet went berserk.

As long as he lived, he ruled as only earnest humility and heartfelt sincerity can. Pal pal dil ke paas… he earned a permanent place in the hearts of cinelovers.