Happy birthday to Dharmender.
The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to Dharmender on 8th December, 2008. He had indispensable hero of bollywood films during the 60s, 70s and 80s and contributed in more than 300 films. When he appeared in films there was strong domination of Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Rajender Kumar and other bollywood stars and it took time for Dharmender to create his identity.
He even acted as anti-hero in films like Ayee Milan Ki Bela, where Rajender Kumar was the main hero, side-role in the film Ganga Ki Lehere where Kishore Kumar was the main Hero. But he became prominent with his performance in the film Phool Aur Patthar opposite Meena Kumari in the mid-60s.
His film Mere Humdum Mere Dost, opposite Sharmila Tagore became super hit with Rafi’s songs like “na ja kabhi ab na ja”, “hui shaam unka khayal aa gaya”, etc. His film Aankhe opposite Mala Sinha also became super hit. From that time Dharmender creating his identity as an action hero.
Although his romantic films like Baharen Phir Bhi Ayegi opposite Tanuja, Aya Sawan Jhumke opposite Asha Parekh, Isq Par Zor Nahi opposite Sadhna created tremendous box-office impact, his action films created greater business. The hit songs of Baharen Phir Bhi Ayegi include “aap ke haseen rukh” composed by OP Nayyar and sung by Rafi, Aya Sawan Jhumke include “aya sawan jhumke”, “o majhi chaal”, etc, “yeh dil diwana hai” sung by Rafi and composed by SD Burman in the film Ishq Par Zor Nahin.
In the 70s, Dharmender stormed bollywood films with the success in Jheel Ke Us Par, Jugnu, Raja Jani, Sholay, Charas, etc. He married Hema Malini and the pair had contributed in many hit films in that era which included every type of subject matter. Their film Seeta Aur Geeta was super hit, with double role of Hema Malini and quality performance of both Dharmender and Sanjeev Kumar.
From Dharmender emerged as one of the greatest Indian action heroes at par with Big B and Vinod Khanna. If the career Dharmender is analyzed it will be found that he had acted under different banners, different producers, which include Bimal Roy’s films like Bandinj, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s films like Satyakam, Guddi, Chupke Chupke, to Ramesh Sippy’s films like Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, etc., BR Chopra’s films like Burning Train, Gulzar’s films like Kinara, etc.
He had acted with actresses of different generations which include Wahida Rehman, Saira Banu on one hand, and Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi on the other hand. He had given lips in the songs of Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore, Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor and many other singers of 60s and 70s.
Even after limiting his performance in major roles in the 80s, when his two sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol grew up, Dharmender produced landmark films for them. Sunny Deol’s successful films Betaab and Ghayal were produced by Dharmender. Bobby Deol’s successful film Barsaat was produced by Dharmender.
Even last year he acted in the film Mere Apne with Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol in the role of a boxer, and showed that he can still contribute in character roles when he gets scope and opportunity. The viewers expect Dharmender to continue his good work that he had done for the last 50 years.
