Dharmendra's Southern Sojourn: A Tale of Dedication and Friendship
The recent passing of legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra has brought to light his remarkable connections with South Indian cinema that spanned decades. While he was one of Hindi cinema's most beloved stars, his professional relationships and personal bonds with the Southern film industry reveal a side of the actor that many fans might not know.
Meticulous Preparation and Professionalism
During the 1964 shooting of 'Main Bhi Ladki Hoon,' a Hindi remake of the Tamil film 'Naanum Oru Pen,' Dharmendra displayed extraordinary dedication by insisting on watching the original Tamil version to understand his character better. A V M Kumaran of the prestigious AVM Studios, which collaborated with nearly every major Bollywood star, recalls how the actor would rehearse song lyrics repeatedly to ensure perfect lip synchronization.
"He never fussed about costumes either," Kumaran remembers, adding that no actor from Bollywood could replace Dharmendra's unique charm. This attention to detail became a hallmark of his approach to remakes throughout his career.
Memorable Collaboration with Jayalalithaa
One of Dharmendra's most significant Southern associations was with Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in the 1968 Hindi film 'Izzat.' This marked her only movie in Hindi, where she played Jhumki, a tribal girl, while Dharmendra performed a double role.
Producer and dramatist S Shivpprasadh shares fascinating details from the shoot, revealing that the unit stayed in Kullu Manali for over a month. During this period, Jayalalithaa's mother Sandhya would cook South Indian food for the entire crew. Dharmendra found his co-star to be a 'livewire' on sets while describing her as quiet and graceful off camera. Their friendship continued long after the film's completion, with Dharmendra making it a point to call or visit Jayalalithaa whenever he was in Chennai.
Deep Roots in Chennai's Film Industry
From the 1960s through the late 1990s, numerous films were remade across languages with Chennai studios like AVM and Vijaya Vauhini leading these projects. Film critic Balu notes that Dharmendra worked closely with Chennai stuntmen, despite being known primarily for his action-packed roles in Bollywood.
Actor-producer Chitra Lakshmanan, who worked with Dharmendra in 'Saveray Wali Gaadi' (the Hindi remake of Bharathiraja's 1978 'Kizhakke Pogum Rail'), witnessed the actor's commitment firsthand. Dharmendra carefully studied actor Vijayan's body language in the Tamil original to capture the nuances of his role perfectly. "His dedication showed that even if it is not the main role, he had to do his homework perfectly," Lakshmanan emphasizes.
Mutual Admiration and Lasting Legacy
Dharmendra's appreciation for Southern cinema extended to his admiration for Superstar Rajinikanth, whom he described as someone who is always 'fast' in doing things. This mutual respect across industries characterized his approach to cinema.
Nizhalgal Ravi, who acted with Dharmendra in the 1997 movie 'Gundagardi,' expresses his awe at sharing screen space with the legend. "During my college days, I used to sing 'Yaadon ki baraat nikli hai aaj dil ke dwaare' a hundred times and watched 'Sholay' at least 50 times, but I never dreamed I would share screen space with him," he recalls.
Dharmendra passed away in Mumbai on Monday at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy that transcends regional boundaries and celebrates the unity of Indian cinema through his remarkable collaborations and friendships.
