How Dharmendra brought back the old Bollywood we knew

'Rocky aur Rani ... had softness that had been missing in the industry for a long time

- BY LAKSHANA N. PALAT

The two play star-crossed lovers in Karan Johar's film.

(Gulf News Archives)

Abhi Na jao ... chodkar, yeh dil abhi bhara nahin ... The whole theatre erupted into applause, cheers and hoots, as an ailing Dharmendra walked over to Shabana Azmi after singing.

In that moment, after what seemed like an eternity, Bollywood seemed like its old self again, after years of grating repetitive, jaded storytelling.