Phagwara remembers a star who stayed grounded

Born in Nasrali village near Ludhiana but raised in Phagwara, Dharmendra spent the formative years of his life in this town, where his father, Master Kewal Krishan Chaudhary, served as a respected teacher at Arya High School. The star completed his matriculation at the same school in 1950, remembered by teachers and classmates as a gentle, sincere boy whose humility was evident even in his youth.

After finishing his intermediate studies at Ramgarhia College, Phagwara, in 1952, Dharmendra left for Mumbai to pursue his cinematic dreams. Though fame embraced him quickly, he remained deeply connected to the town that shaped his early life.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dharmendra made several emotional visits to Phagwara, each time rekindling ties with childhood friends and revisiting familiar places. He often stayed with his cousin, Hakim Sat Pal, but always ensured he met those who had walked beside him in his early years.

One of his regular stops was the residence of his old classmate, advocate SN Chopra, where conversations drifted effortlessly from memories of Arya High School to reflections on the journey that took him from the benches of Phagwara to the grand sets of Mumbai. Chopra often recalled how Dharmendra, despite global fame, spoke fondly of school-time pranks, teachers he admired and the discipline instilled by his father.

Dharmendra shared an equally warm bond with Harjit Singh Parmar and his family. During every visit, he made it a point to stop at their home, spending long hours talking about old times, local developments and the evolving character of the town he loved. Parmar fondly remembered how Dharmendra, accompanied by his wife Prakash Kaur, would arrive with heartfelt warmth, touch the feet of elders for blessings and chat affectionately with the family. “He always came as the same Dharam we knew — simple, emotional and deeply rooted,” Parmar said.

One anecdote that still echoes across Phagwara is from Dharmendra’s youth: his rejection for a role in the local Ramlila staged by the Quami Sewak Ram Lila Committee. When he returned decades later as a superstar, he teasingly asked his friend Kaura, “Can I play a role in Ramlila now?” — a remark that left everyone smiling through moist eyes.