The cinematic world mourns as veteran actor Dharmendra's remarkable 59-year association with Kolkata draws to a poignant close with his passing, occurring just days before the release of his final film performance. The legendary actor's connection with Bengal remained strong throughout his illustrious career, culminating in a character specifically crafted by Bengali writer Arijit Biswas.
A Journey Beginning in Bengali Cinema
Dharmendra's relationship with Bengali cinema commenced in 1966 with his debut in Jagannath Chatterjee's film 'Paari', adapted from author Jarasandha's literary work. The film released on August 5, 1966, entering a competitive landscape that included Satyajit Ray's 'Nayak' and Tapan Sinha's 'Golpo Holeo Sotti'. Despite the formidable competition, 'Paari' featuring Dharmendra and Pranati gained significant attention for its compelling narrative.
The success of 'Paari' led to its Hindi remake 'Anokha Milan' in 1972. Several scenes were filmed at the historic Cellular Jail in the Andamans, with Dharmendra's performance receiving critical acclaim despite sharing screen space with the legendary Dilip Kumar, who portrayed a jailor in the film.
The Final Performance and Bengal Connection
In his last cinematic appearance, Dharmendra portrayed Brigadier M L Khetrapal - father of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee - in the war drama 'Ikkis'. The character was meticulously crafted by writer Arijit Biswas along with Sriram Raghavan and Pooja Ladha Surti, marking a significant collaboration that brought Dharmendra's final performance to life.
Biswas revealed that their initial attempt to cast Dharmendra dated back to 2012 for 'Agent Vinod', where they envisioned him as a RAW chief. Though that collaboration didn't materialize, the team eventually created a role specifically tailored for the veteran actor in 'Ikkis'.
"He plays a father who bleeds with all war casualties," Biswas explained about Dharmendra's character. "In the final scene, he asks his Pakistani counterpart to visit him in India. Dharamji's character goes in search of his roots in a country his son fought against and died a hero. This pathos has brilliantly been portrayed by Dharamji."
Enduring Bonds and Professional Relationships
Though Dharmendra never acted in another Bengali film after 'Paari', his professional connections with Bengali filmmakers and actors remained robust throughout his career. His collaborations included working with Supriya Devi in 'Aap Ki Parchhaiyan' (1964) and numerous Hindi films with Bengali co-stars including Biswajit, Sharmila Tagore, and Mousumi Chatterjee.
The actor maintained strong creative partnerships with legendary Bengali directors including Asit Sen ('Mamta'), Hrishikesh Mukherjee ('Anupama', 'Majhli Didi', 'Satyakam', 'Guddi', 'Chupke Chupke', and 'Chaitali'), Bimal Roy ('Bandini'), and Pramod Chakravorty ('Naya Zamana', 'Jugnu', 'Dream Girl', 'Azaad', and the bilingual 'Teen Murti').
In the 1980s, Gulzar had planned an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 'Devdas' starring Dharmendra and Hema Malini, though the project was eventually abandoned. More recently, Anurag Basu cast him in 'Life... in a Metro' (2017), and he shared screen space with Bengali actors Tota Roy Chowdhury and Churni Ganguly in 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'.
Co-star Ekavalli Khanna, who worked with Dharmendra in 'Ikkis', shared heartfelt memories of the veteran actor. "I watched 'Uttar Falguni' and my father suggested I watch the Hindi version, which had Dharamji and Suchitra Sen," she recalled. "During 'Ikkis', I mentioned this to him and told him how handsome he looked."
Khanna described Dharmendra as meticulous about reviewing his lines before each take, passionate about his craft, and particular about his appearance. "He was surprised to learn I was a Punjabi girl from Kolkata," she added. "He effortlessly shared his shayri during breaks and chose to speak to me in Punjabi."
Tota Roy Chowdhury reflected on Dharmendra's appreciation for Bengali directors, noting that the actor often credited filmmakers like Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee for bringing out the best in him as a performer. "Dharmendra had an incredible screen presence," Roy Chowdhury remarked. "His handsome looks often overshadowed his other talents. Unfortunately, not many films showcased his comedic skills. It would have been wonderful if he had acted in more Bengali films."
Dharmendra's commitment to his final project extended beyond performance, as he actively contributed to the script by suggesting a key scene with actor Deepak Dobriyal. Writer Arijit Biswas, a self-professed fan for four decades who watched 'Sholay' at least five times in theaters, expressed profound admiration for the actor's humility and generosity during their collaboration.
The passing of Dharmendra marks the end of an era in Indian cinema, particularly closing a significant chapter in the enduring relationship between Bollywood and Bengali film industry, a bond that the veteran actor nurtured and cherished throughout his remarkable six-decade career.
