And the list continues....
6. DANCE MOVES: Dustedoff mentioned this in the comments to my last post, and I absolutely agree. There is something so cute, fun, carefree and almost childlike about Dharam’s dancing. And he always looks like he’s enjoying it just as much as we are. He is not a good dancer, not by a long shot, but who needs good dancing when you could have this instead?
Many thanks, Dustedoff, for bringing that one to my attention.
7. LEAN ON ME: It’s tough to put into words, but there’s something very, very comforting, reassuring and... solid about Dharam onscreen. You always feel like you can trust him to be there for you. Perhaps it helped that many of his characters have allowed him to be so caring and protective – whether it was to a love-interest ('Anupama'), a mentee ('Guddi') or a buddy ('Sholay'). You just always feel that here is a guy who would come through for you in a pinch, without even stopping to think about it.
8. HUMILITY: For all his hunkiness, here is something so personable, ‘real’ and down-to-earth about Dharmendra – which I suppose is why he is such a favourite among the ‘aam junta’ – he doesn’t seem to have any airs or graces – and this comes through really well onscreen. He never seemed to let his star power overwhelm his characters the way some of his contemporaries did (*cough* *cough* Rajesh Khanna). And he seems really humble in real life as well... his colleagues in the industry always have such wonderful things to say about working with him. I was quite touched when Amitabh Bachchan recounted how Dharmendra invited him to an event (I think it might have been the music launch of ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’), and even with all the activity around him, Dharam kept calling Amit ji to tell him to take his time and not to leave home too early.
9. GLASS BREAKING: Now this is one of those random things... I really, really like it when Dharam gets all mad, but instead of lashing out, he tries to control the angst as much as he can, until he just loses it and breaks some glass with his bare hands. This I don’t even know why I like – I just do. Probably slightly twisted, but there you go.
10. VERSATILITY: I really like how Dharam tried so many different things onscreen – slapstick comedy, family drama, action thrillers, social commentary, romance... and he did well in every department. The great thing about him is that he’s got something for everyone – a ‘The Burning Train’ for the adrenalin junkies, an ‘Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke’ for the romantics, a ‘Satyakam’ for the philosophers... and of course a ‘Sholay’ for those of us that like a little bit of everything in our masala mix.
What are some of your favourite things about Dharmendra? I’d love to hear them....
I’ll be back soon with the second instalment of my ‘Questionnaires’ – this time my subjects will be Bobby, Esha and Abhay.
6. DANCE MOVES: Dustedoff mentioned this in the comments to my last post, and I absolutely agree. There is something so cute, fun, carefree and almost childlike about Dharam’s dancing. And he always looks like he’s enjoying it just as much as we are. He is not a good dancer, not by a long shot, but who needs good dancing when you could have this instead?
Many thanks, Dustedoff, for bringing that one to my attention.
7. LEAN ON ME: It’s tough to put into words, but there’s something very, very comforting, reassuring and... solid about Dharam onscreen. You always feel like you can trust him to be there for you. Perhaps it helped that many of his characters have allowed him to be so caring and protective – whether it was to a love-interest ('Anupama'), a mentee ('Guddi') or a buddy ('Sholay'). You just always feel that here is a guy who would come through for you in a pinch, without even stopping to think about it.
8. HUMILITY: For all his hunkiness, here is something so personable, ‘real’ and down-to-earth about Dharmendra – which I suppose is why he is such a favourite among the ‘aam junta’ – he doesn’t seem to have any airs or graces – and this comes through really well onscreen. He never seemed to let his star power overwhelm his characters the way some of his contemporaries did (*cough* *cough* Rajesh Khanna). And he seems really humble in real life as well... his colleagues in the industry always have such wonderful things to say about working with him. I was quite touched when Amitabh Bachchan recounted how Dharmendra invited him to an event (I think it might have been the music launch of ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’), and even with all the activity around him, Dharam kept calling Amit ji to tell him to take his time and not to leave home too early.
9. GLASS BREAKING: Now this is one of those random things... I really, really like it when Dharam gets all mad, but instead of lashing out, he tries to control the angst as much as he can, until he just loses it and breaks some glass with his bare hands. This I don’t even know why I like – I just do. Probably slightly twisted, but there you go.
10. VERSATILITY: I really like how Dharam tried so many different things onscreen – slapstick comedy, family drama, action thrillers, social commentary, romance... and he did well in every department. The great thing about him is that he’s got something for everyone – a ‘The Burning Train’ for the adrenalin junkies, an ‘Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke’ for the romantics, a ‘Satyakam’ for the philosophers... and of course a ‘Sholay’ for those of us that like a little bit of everything in our masala mix.
What are some of your favourite things about Dharmendra? I’d love to hear them....
I’ll be back soon with the second instalment of my ‘Questionnaires’ – this time my subjects will be Bobby, Esha and Abhay.
8 comments:
I am with you on all the reasons why one should love Dharam, but I suspect that I just love him because he is so very good looking in so many great films! ;D I was watching The Burning Train this weekend and was struck by how good he looked, even in the 80s! I wish he'd done more Chupke Chupke kind of comedies. He was sooooo good in it - but then, films like that do not get made often, so he probably had no choice...
TOTALLY AGREE with all your reasons to love Dharam-ji (love #9 - I totally get where you're coming from!).
I think my absolute favourite thing about Dharam-ji...hmmm...I don't know if I can pick one! I do love it when he yells "KUTTE!"....
Yay! For putting Dharmendra's dancing on your list. Yes, he's so absolutely adorable when he tries to dance! And I agree with all the other reasons you've listed too, especially that humility... the lack of 'star airs' is what makes me like him more than a lot of others.
@bollyviewer: I totally agree with you... he was wonderful in 'Chupke Chupke'...
@Ness: Ahh, that's a good one!! He does that so well!
@dustedoff: Thanks again for the link to that video... it's SO cute! I do love how 'unstarry' he seems to be... watched him on Karan Johar's show 'Lift Kara De' last year, and he was so genuine and sweet (and not the least bit patronising, as so many stars are) to his fans.
ahh yet another adorable post, i totally feel you on number 9 and something i forgot to add in you previous post but would do so now is I think he looked his best in the 60's (late 60's more so) and i find that his wardrobe from that era was to die for, aya sawan jhoom ke and aadmi aur insaan in particular
Bollywooddeewana, I totally agree with you on 'Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke' - he looked really great in that. Also loved his look in 'Mere Humdum Mere Dost' (1968) - the movie was rather lame, but he and Sharmila looked fab, and it has awesome songs. I haven't seen 'Aadmi Aur Insaan' yet, I hope to see it soon.
Enjoyed part 2 also and totally agree with you on Dharam's fabness.
After reading your posts i was wondering if Dharam has ever acted as a rich and successful businessman with 3 piece suit et al. Some how he has always been associated as an honest hard working bloke on the side of the masses rather than the rich blokes.
I am sure a three piece suited dharam with all the wealth at his disposal in a movie would have been awesome as well and have us girls drooling as usual!
Dharam indeed did a variety of roles as you have rightly pointed out.
He was handsome in Aaye Din Bahar Ke too.
I saw Mera Gaon Mera Desh last weekend and enjoyed it! Dharam was so natural. Lakshmi Chayya and the songs as well as a hot VK made my day!
Filmbuff, I TOTALLY agree with you about 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh'! Laxmi Chhaya, the songs, and Vinod Khanna (SO HOT!!) were awesome. Dharam was good too - natural, as you said. I need to rewatch that...
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