Celebrating his 88th birthday today, the legendary Garam Dharam, Dharmendra, stands at the pinnacle of success, relishing the triumph of his latest cinematic venture, Karan Johar’s lively romantic comedy, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.’ Stepping into the limelight alongside the vibrant duo of Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, Dharamji weaves a parallel romantic narrative with the accomplished Shabana Azmi in this Prem Kahani.
However, beneath the glitz and glamour, lies a poignant tale. Recalling an interview on his 75th birthday, Dharmendra struggled to contain his emotions, reflecting on 50 illustrious years in cinema. With a quiver in his voice, he bared his soul, “What to celebrate my birthday when the person who gave birth to me is not here.” From the depths of his pocket, he retrieved a weathered letter, the last communication from his father. Every morning, he tenderly kisses it, pressing it to his forehead, a ritual born out of sentimentality. Tears streamed down his face as he confessed, “I don’t enjoy birthdays without my parents. I pray to them to help me be a good person, to give me the strength to make others happy. I like seeing smiling faces.”
Known for his charismatic roguishness, Dharamji once challenged the modern fixation on six-pack abs and biceps. “I was famous for my thighs!” he declared mischievously to a young reporter, inviting her to measure his muscular thighs—with her hands. Such anecdotes showcase the timeless charm of the actor who, at 25, ventured from being a school teacher’s son to an entertainer in Bombay, driven by a simple desire to be loved, liked, and admired. “I just wanted a Fiat car, a flat, and to be seen on film posters,” he shared. “If I don’t make it in films, I could use the Fiat to become a taxi driver.”
While the years may have passed since those long, nostalgic phone calls, the respect and deep affection for this Jat who graced Bombay at 25 endure. Today, perhaps, a birthday call to Dharamji, extending wishes for his 88th year, would be a fitting homage to the man who pursued dreams with passion and left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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