Dharmendra passed away a couple of weeks before his 90th birthday which would have been on December 8. He is the only actor to give SEVEN HITS in a year and not only once but it happened twice in 1973 and 1987. In 1987, he had 10 releases including two long delayed films and seven of them scored at the box office including the top grosser of the year, HUKUMAT.

The 1973 record would hold the edge to 1987 as the films were bigger but still to get seven HITS in a year is pretty much unthinkable. It is nearly impossible even today and even that time the norm was 3-4 films a day. The films in 1987 were generally action films catering to the masses and apart from HUKUMAT. they were multistarrers but Dharmendra was the main selling point of these films. Even if the role was lesser in screen time, he would be dominating the posters.

The 1980's was pretty similar to the situation today when metro audience had shifted to video and today that reads streaming but the industry was able to shift fast enough to the needs of the audience which has not been the case today. The early eighties saw Dharmendra delivering less HITS than earlier though all the films opened very well. But in 1987, it came together as the openings were huge and the films sustained as well. These seven hits in a year came when it was the 27th year of his career which itself is also unthinkable as it will not be the peak of the career.

The 1987 releases for Dharmendra went as follows.

Hukumat - Blockbuster

Aag Hi Aag - Super Hit

Loha - Hit

Watan Ke Rakhwale - Hit

Insaniyat Ke Dushman - Hit

Insaaf Kaun Karega - Hit

Dadagiri - Hit

Insaf Ki Pukaar - Average

Jaan Hatheli Pe - Average (Long Delayed)

Mera Dharam Mera Karam - Flop (Long Delayed)

Mard Ki Zabaan - Flop (Extended Guest Role)

My fingers are frozen, my eyes are moist and my heart is flooded.

How does one pen an ode to the greatest hero that ever lived? How can a word count ever do justice to his 89 years? His 65-year career that spawned more hits than any superstar born. Even today. Yet he disliked the tag ‘superstar’.

“Call me actor. Brother, son, father. Those are the most important roles we play,” he stated often during our many interactions. And great actor-star he was, with a flair for comedy no star can master. And those fist fights? Phew. When his massive hand covered the face of the bad guys and that famed dialogue ‘kutte’ rang out – there was theatre frenzy unleashed.

No wonder a teenage me always wanted to be Dharmendra. Every youngster did. A soft vulnerable face that charmed every bird from every tree. A physique that every youngster wanted long before gyms were a thing. The classic soft face, a tough body. And with an endless well of emotions that never failed to overwhelm.

No wonder, when I joined the legendary magazine ‘Stardust’, I wanted to interview Garam Dharam (an epithet fondly given to him by the magazine publisher and editors past). The editor warned me. ‘He doesn’t speak easily to us. And you will have to chase him and convince him.” That very day my chase began. In an era without mobile phones, I chased him to every shooting, every mahurat, every premiere but he always gave me a fresh date.

It was six months later that I finally got an interview at Film City. Of course, I sat miles away, near the green room door to run if required. However, the man I met was the kindest, most humble, most caring star I’d always imagined. Nevertheless, after the interview the warning came; “I trust you, so write well. Don’t twist my words, otherwise you know I can get angry also.”

I never gave him that chance. It was the cover, headlined ‘50 Years and Sexy Still’. That interview made my bones as a writer as soon as the issue hit the stands. Later that night, my landline at home rang. “Dharamji baat karenge,” said the voice.

My heart skipped several beats until the star himself spoke, “You have gained my trust. I liked your article. From now my home is open to you at any hour. Just don’t break the faith.” Vindication!

After that there were several times I interviewed him, often dropping into his warm and cozy home. It was his warmth and greatness that almost made me feel like family. Always so much more than an actor or a star. That was a trait the world came to love and adore. A rare trait. He could be anyone, play any role. At Bobby’s launch in Barsaat, it was as if he was Editor, Writer, Photographer all in one. He wanted Sunny and Bobby to do a feature clad in denim. It became one of the highest sold covers. Thanks to Dharam ji’s vision. All because it came from the deep emotional heart of a doting family man.

A little-known fact about this huge talent, was and is, that he is fluent in Urdu and wrote the most beautiful shairi. During my The Times of India tenure, he asked me, “Urdu jaante ho?” Shamefacedly I couldn’t nod. “Shame on you. You should know Hindi and Urdu first. Uske baad English.” Then he recited the most beautiful poetry I’d heard. All from the pen of this multi-talented man.

Hard to imagine that this man, with the massive fan following and the toughest natural muscles in Bollywood had a soft side. A weakness. He couldn’t see suffering. Legions of people visited him daily for solace and help; even producers stuck for funds. And a superman named Dharmendra always helped them. A cameo in a film, a phone call of support and even not charging many distressed producers. Surely many must’ve taken undue advantage, but our hero didn’t care. “Be good and be humble” was his motto always. The only time he flared up was when his family or any woman were disrespected. Then God help the offender. At heart he was always the gentle giant. A good man, of the finest mettle that was ever made.

In later years, he made action movies like Hukumat, Loha and Insaniyat ke Dushman coming on the heels of an industry strike. Those movies saved the industry, blockbusters all. Though his all-time personal favourite remained the sensitive Satyakaam.

From on-screen lover boy to an action star with a flair for comedy, he could be anything he wanted at any point in his career. Cinema and the world of Bollywood adapted around him. How else can we explain the iconic Chupke Chupke? The hilarious Naukar Biwi Ka? The sensational Sholay? This legend made any genre slip into cinema as easily as he carried off the gladiator look in Dharam Veer. He also made a dance style his own, reminding people that tough guys can dance.

Tragically, every story has a cruel twist. The man with the endearing smile will smile no more. An era is past. Or is it? Does the flame of the eternal hero ever dim? 65 years of film magic will live on forever. And as millions of hearts brim over worldwide; a song haunts us in the background – Gaadi bula rahi hai, seeti baja rahi hai … from Dost - another of his beloved films. It reminds us that heroes never really go away. They live in hearts and minds forever. Dharmendra has just taken a train to Valhalla. He will be back soon – on every screen there is. And I will watch and clap like that teenager of our first meeting.

After all, yeh dosti hum nahin todenge…