Page 46 - The Indian EYE 091925

EYE ON BOLLYWOOD SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 | The Indian Eye 46

Dharmendra at 89: Still Strong,

Still Shining, Still Winning Hearts

From gym videos to golden jubilees,

Bollywood’s ‘He-Man’ continues to inspire generations.

filmography is filled with box-office
OUR BUREAU
triumphs.
Mumbai From Phool Aur Patthar (1966),
which first earned him the tag of Bol-
t 89, most actors would have lywood’s “He-Man,” to family dra-
long stepped away from the
Aarc lights, content to let nos- mas, romances, and action-packed
entertainers, he has given more hits
talgia preserve their legacy. But than any other Hindi film actor. His
Dharmendra, the original “He-Man” versatility—equally at ease in com-
of Hindi cinema, remains a force of edy, action, and romance—helped
energy, charm, and connection. He is him dominate an era when stardom
not only active on screen—with new was fiercely competitive.
projects lined up—but also on social
Even today, his record remains
media, where his warm, unfiltered unmatched, making him not just
posts and gym updates often go viral.
For fans, old and new, Dharmendra a superstar of his time but an icon
whose body of work helped define
is not just a star of the past but an mainstream Hindi cinema.
enduring presence in the present.
LOOKING AHEAD
His daughter, actor Esha emarkably, Dharmendra
Deol, says her father’s biggest shows no signs of slow-

strength is his ability to commu- Ring down. He will next be
seen in Ikkis, a war drama starring
nicate with love. “I think he has Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bach-
mastered the art of communi- chan’s grandson. Scheduled for re-
lease on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2,
cating with his fans through so- the film marks yet another chapter

cial media. The way he does it, in his astonishingly long and suc-
cessful career.
he connects so well with people. For his fans, the excitement
His language is love—it shows of seeing him on the big screen is
matched only by the joy of witness-
so clearly on his social media,” ing his spirit off screen—whether in

she told ANI. Even today, Dharmendra’s record remains unmatched, making him not just a superstar of his a heartfelt video message, a poem,
time but an icon whose body of work helped define mainstream Hindi cinema or a fitness clip.
Indeed, Dharmendra’s Insta- At 89, Dharmendra embodies a
gram clips—whether from his work- film that cemented Dharmendra’s love watching it. We’ve all enacted rare combination: an artist who has
lived through cinema’s golden age,
outs that put younger men to shame place as one of Indian cinema’s and played all the characters from ruled its box office for decades, and
or his nostalgic throwbacks—are tes- greatest icons. Released on August Sholay,” she said. still manages to reinvent himself in
tament to his vitality. For a man who 15, the Ramesh Sippy classic rede- For audiences, Dharmendra’s the age of Instagram. His enduring
has acted in more than 300 films and fined Bollywood storytelling with its turn as the lovable Veeru remains popularity lies not just in the films he
delivered the highest number of hits unforgettable characters, dialogues, immortal. Whether wooing Hema gave, but in the love and humility he
in Hindi cinema, his relevance at 89 and soundtrack. Malini’s Basanti atop a water tank continues to share.
is not just remarkable, it is rare.
Esha recalls growing up with or teaming up with Amitabh Bach- As Esha Deol put it simply, “He
THE MAGIC OF SHOLAY Sholay as more than just a mov- chan’s Jai in “Yeh Dosti,” his per- is loved by so many, and he connects
ie—it was part of family life. “I formance continues to resonate five with them.” And that, perhaps, is the
dding to the sense of celebra- don’t remember how many times decades later. secret of why Dharmendra remains,
tion this year is the golden I’ve watched Sholay growing up, While Sholay stands tall as a even at 89, Bollywood’s most be-
Ajubilee of Sholay (1975), the and even now, if it’s on television, I cultural milestone, Dharmendra’s loved evergreen hero.

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