Village boy from Punjab who conquered the silver screen

Bollywood actor Dharmendra died when there were just days left for him to turn 90. Dharmendra was not just an actor for movie lovers who grew up watching the golden era of Hindi cinema. He was the heartbeat of an entire generation. His smile and soft voice were the reasons why the audience loved him. For his fans, Dharmendra was not just someone they saw on screen. They saw him as a member of the family.

Dharmendra, a village boy from Nasrali in Punjab’s Ludhiana loved his homeland very much. From there, he came to Bombay with his passion for films. He did not have a filmy background. He conquered the silver screen through his hard work.

His debut film was Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere released in 1960, but it was not a hit. He later played character roles in many films and gradually moved on to lead roles. His role in Phool Aur Patthar released in 1966 was a turning point in his life. He has not looked back since.

Dharmendra got married to Prakash Kaur at the age of 19 before entering the film industry in 1954. The couple has four children, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeta and Ajeeta.

Years later, in 1970, Dharmendra met actress Hema Malini on the sets of the film Tum Haseen Mein Jawan. The audience welcomed their on-screen chemistry. They appeared together in many films including Raja Jani. This relationship soon culminated in love and they got married on May 2, 1980. The couple has two daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.