Dharmendra Singh Deol is a Legendary Bollywood Superstar. He is popularly known as the ‘He-Man’, of Bollywood and also as ‘Garam Dharam’. Dharmendra has acted in more than 200 Bollywood films over a period of four decades. Dharmendra was considered as the most handsome actor in Bollywood during the peak of his career. In 1997, Dharmendra received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.
Early Life
Dharmendra was born on 8th December 1935, into a Jat family in the Kapurthala district of Punjab, India. His parents are Keshwant Singh Deol and Satwant Kaur. His father was a head school master at a school in Ludhiana. Dharmendra spent his childhood at his native place Sahnewal in Ludhiana.
Personal Life
Dharmendra has been married twice. In 1954, when Dharmendra was just 19 years old, he married Prakask Kaur. He has four children with her, two sons, actors, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol and two daughters, Vijeeta and Ajeeta.
On the sets of SHOLAY (1975), Dharmendra fell in love with Hema Malini, his co-star in many films. Their romance was legendary. Dharmendra converted to Islam in 1979, and changed his name to Dilawar Khan, to marry Hema Malini. He did so, because his first wife Prakash was not ready to divorce him. And in accordance with the Hindu Marriage Act it is illegal for a Hindu to get re-married when his first wife is still alive. On 2nd May 1980, Dharmendra got married to Hema Malini. Dharmendra has two daughters from Hema Malini, Esha Deol, who is an actress and Ahana Deol. When Esha Deol decided to become an actress, Dharmendra was vocal about his displeasure regarding her career choice, as he did not feel that the Mumbai film industry was suitable for girls. Dharmendra was also romantically involved with actress Meena Kumari, his co-star in PHOOL AUR PATTHAR (1966).
Career
1960′s – 1970′s
Dharmendra had taken up a job with an American Drilling Company boring tube wells. But luckily he won the Filmfare New Talent Award and this proved lucky for him. He moved to Mumbai. He was discovered and signed up by Arjun Hingorani for the film DIL BHI TERA HUM BHI TERE in the year 1960. He received a signing amount of Rs. 51, and a daily breakfast, strictly of tea, two toasts and butter but no jam!
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