MY NAME IS DHARAM, GARAM DHARAM

Dharmendra appeared with Madhubala in 'Boyfriend' in a supporting role in 1961. While just a few weeks back, he was shooting for 'Ikkis' with Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, signifying an unparalleled longevity in filmdom.

- SURENDRA KUMAR

A crush of many, a darling of millions, Garam Dharam remained the humblest, the gentlest and the kindest of stars of Bollywood even after touching dizzying heights of stardom and success...

When Dharam Singh Deol, born in Nasrali, a small village in Ludhiana district in Punjab on December 8, 1935, after winning Filmfare's "All-India Talent Hunt" set out on a train journey to Bombay in 1958, carrying Dilip Kumar's face in the film "Shaheed" on his mind, he wouldn't have imagined that his film journey would last for 60 years, featuring him in nearly 300 films traversing generations.

He proved that even an individual of humble beginnings, with no degree or diploma from any film institute nor any godfather or godmother in the film world to launch or promote one, could reach dizzying heights of success and stardom through sheer talent, hard work, dedication and irrepressible determination to succeed. Self-belief, grit and perseverance, thy name was Dharmendra.

He also set an inspiring example that even a highly successful and immensely popular person could remain gentle, kind, considerate, compassionate and humble sans vanity, pompousness and starry tantrums. No wonder, when his journey ended, the entire Bollywood, cutting across generations, poured out to say goodbye. Truly, he was the biggest people's star ever.

He debuted in 1960 in the film, "Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere" against Tanuja, directed by Arjun Hingorani. The soulful song in Mukesh's melancholy-filled voice, "Mujhko Is Raat Ki Tanhai Mei Aavaaz Na Do" is still hummed by lonely souls six decades later.

His second film, "Shola Aur Shabnum" (1961), directed by Ramesh Saigal, a love triangle featuring Tarla Mehta was also a hit. Its song, "Jaane kya dhoondti rahti hai, yeh aankhe", sung by Mohd Rafi with Khayyam's music was listeners' choice for years.