Dharmendra
February 18th, 2010 | 
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Dharamendra Singh Deol (Punjabi: ਧਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਿਉਲ), born 8 December 1935 in Punjab, better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Bollywood film star who has appeared in more than 200 Hindi-language films. In 1997 he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema. He is also the father of actors Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Esha Deol.
Early life
He was born into a Sikh (Jatt) family in the Kapurthala district of Punjab state to Kewal Kishan Singh Deol and Satwant Kaur. His father was a school headmaster in the village of Lalton where the family later moved.
Personal life
Dharmendra married twice and has maintained both his wives. His first marriage is to Prakash Kaur at the age of 19 in 1954. His second marriage took place with actress Hema Malini. It is rumoured that Dharmendra accepted Islam and changed his name to Dilawar Khan in order to marry Hema Mailini, as his first wife refused to divorce him. The couple are said to have fallen in love on the set of Sholay (1975) although they had made films together before. he has two daughters: Esha Deol, who is an actress, and Ahana Deol. He is also the uncle of actor Abhay Deol, who is the son of his younger brother Ajit Deol.Dharmendra was also romantically involved with his Phool Aur Patthar co-star Meena Kumari.
Dharmendra has gone on record saying he does not believe that the Mumbai film industry is a place suitable for girls. He was unperturbed by his sons Sunny and Bobby joining the industry, but was vocal about his displeasure regarding his daughter Esha’s choice of profession.
Political career
He has recently become active in politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2004 general elections, from Bikaner in Rajasthan, on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. During his election campaign, he made an ironic remark that he should be elected Dictator Perpetuus to teach “basic etiquette that democracy requires” for which he was severely criticized.[citation needed] Dharmendra has rarely attended the Parliament when the house was in session, preferring to spend the time shooting for movies or doing farming at his farm house. He has also not participated in any debates or raised any queries. Along with actor Govinda, Dharmendra has been criticised for ignoring his duties as a Member of Parliament.
Awards and recognitions
- In 1997, he won a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian Cinema over many years. While receiving the award from Dilip Kumar and his wife Saira Banu, Dharmendra became emotional and remarked that he never received any Filmfare award in the “Best Actor” category despite having worked in so many successful films and nearly a hundred popular movies. He was glad that his contributions had finally been recognized. Speaking on the occasion Dilip Kumar commented ,”Whenever I get to meet with God Almighty I will set before Him my only complaint-why did You not make me as handsome as Dharmendra?”
- In the mid seventies, he was voted as one of the most handsome men in the world, a feat only repeated by Salman Khan (from Bollywood) in 2004.
- He has also received the World Iron Man award.
- He is a recipient of the prestigious “Living Legend Award” by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Indian entertainment industry.
- In 2003 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sansui Viewers’ Choice Movie Awards.
- In 2004, he was honoured for Best Contribution to Indian Cinema.
- In 2005, he received the Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement.
- In 2007, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).
- In 2007, he received an IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award.
- He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award by DBR Entertainment.
- The Punjabi newspaper Quami Ekta honoured him for his contributions to the Indian cinema.
- In 2008, he was named “Actor Par Excellence” at the Max Stardust Awards.
- In 2008, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image International Film (M.A.M.I).
Filmography
1960s
1970s
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1980s
1990s
2000s
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