'Sholay' to 'Chupke Chupke': Dharmendra films that'll always be iconic
What's the story
Dharmendra (89), one of Bollywood's most enduring stars, has died, filmmaker Karan Johar confirmed on Monday. He was reportedly battling age-related ailments. The megastar appeared in over 300 films and was acclaimed for his prowess in action, comedy, and romance. In 1973, he delivered eight hit films, a record that still stands today! Here are some of his classics that showcase his everlasting appeal.
#1
'Sholay'
Ramesh Sippy's 1975 action film Sholay revolutionized Indian cinema. Dharmendra played Veeru, a character who was tough yet vulnerable in his scenes with Basanti (Hema Malini). His legendary partnership with Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) gave us one of the most iconic movies in Bollywood. The film ran in theaters for over five years, making Dharmendra a household name across India.
#2
'Chupke Chupke'
Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1975 comedy Chupke Chupke showcased Dharmendra's impeccable comic timing. Playing Professor Parimal Tripathi, who pretends to be a driver, he matched Bachchan scene for scene. The film revealed a lighter side of Dharmendra that audiences hadn't seen much of before, proving he was about a lot more than just action. The movie also starred Jaya Bachchan.
#3
'The Burning Train'
Dharmendra wasn't just about carrying a film on his shoulders; he shone just as bright while sharing the screen with several co-stars. In the edge-of-the-seat thriller The Burning Train, he delivered an intense performance while sharing the screen with Vinod Khanna, Malini, Jeetendra, Parveen Babi, and Neetu Singh, among others. Helmed by Ravi Chopra, the film is regarded as a cult classic today.
#4
'Dharam Veer'
The second-highest-grossing film of 1977, Dharam Veer had all the ingredients of a hit: a bankable ensemble, chartbuster music, and a successful director known for masala movies. Dharmendra shared the screen with Pran, Jeetendra, Singh, and Ranjeet in this Manmohan Desai action-drama that also featured a young Bobby Deol.
#5
'Rocky Aur Ranii Ki Prem Kahaani'
Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt might have been the leads of Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, but it was Dharmendra's passionate chemistry with Shabana Azmi that stole the show. Dharmendra, paired opposite Jaya, played Kanwal Lund, who was in love with Jamini Chatterjee (Azmi). The union of the legends set the screen on fire, and how!
#6
'Guddi'
Guddi, which propeled Jaya to stardom, starred Dharmendra as himself. Directed by Mukherjee, the classic comedy-drama saw Jaya play the eponymous teenager infatuated with a movie star. Jaya and Dharmendra's enrapturing performances breathed life into the script. A true-blue Mukherjee classic, it featured cameos by Vinod and Rajesh Khanna, among many other stars.