Jai Ho Veeru

As people’s man and actor Dharmendra passes away into eternity, the world remembers a legend -- a “He-Man” and undisputed superstar who ruled the marquee for decades.

An actor of over 300 films, voted among the handsomest actors several times, he impressed as much in his early roles in “Anupama” and “Satyakam” as in his latest innings. Recently 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. During a press conference in Chandigarh, as zealous public relations professionals tried to guard him by keeping press photographers out, he boomed, “Allow them inside, unka haq banta hai mere par.” That was the quintessential Punjabi in him -- someone who never forgot his roots or the debt he owed to his janam bhoomi, and by extension, to his Punjabi brethren. Even in his heydays in the seventies and eighties, his home was an open house where people 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, he 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 that sublimation was an art. In films like “Satyakam”, “Anupama” and “Phool Aur Patthar”, restraint was his USP. Yes, in films like “Pratigya”, with exuberant songs like “Main Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana”, he did go over the top but also landed at the top of the box office.

The hit jodi of Dharmendra and Hema Malini (his second wife) ruled the box office for years. But even if box-office success was within his grasp, big awards somehow eluded this Padma Bhushan recipient. His sons, especially Bobby Deol, rightly feel that their malleable and amiable father never got his real due as far as awards are concerned. The actor himself believed the same about the entire Deol family. Yet the success of Sunny Deol’s “Gadar 2”, Bobby’s newfound resurgence, and his own recent appearances in films like “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani” warmed his heart.

On his daughter Esha Deol’s presence in films, he often struck a patriarchal, old-school note, but his straightforward honesty was never in question. No wonder he thrived on the love of fans and often confessed how he loved the camera and the camera loved him back. His love for cinema began when he watched Dilip Kumar’s “Shaheed” and felt he too belonged to that ethereal world. Later, viewers reciprocated and felt Dharmendra belonged to them.

He made his acting debut with “Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere” in 1960. 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 the Hindi film industry. In “Sholay”, his boisterous and sincere Veeru became an eternal emblem of friendship. In the timeless comedy “Chupke Chupke”, his Pyaare Mohan continues to bring smiles. With films like “Yamla Pagla Deewana”, he felt comedy came easily to him. And so did bombastic dialogues like “Kutte, kaminey, main tera khoon pee jaunga” (“Yaadon Ki Baaraat”) and “Basanti, in kutton ke saamne mat naachna” (“Sholay”), which suited his action-hero image but sadly often clouded his real contributions and achievements.

His love for Urdu poetry exemplified the sensitive man he was. Romantic hero, action hero -- different phases saw him in different avatars. In “Blackmail”, he was the dapper lover. In 2007, Anurag Basu’s “Life in a… Metro” rediscovered his romantic side in a track with Nafisa Ali, proving love knows no age. Ditto in Karan Johar’s “Rocky Aur Rani…”, where he not only romanced Shabana Azmi but also shared a kiss with her, a moment that sent the Internet into a frenzy.

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 cine-lovers.