Legendary actress Waheeda Rehman, one of Indian cinema's most respected icons, recently shared heartfelt memories about her professional collaborations with the late actor Dharmendra. In a candid reflection, she expressed admiration for her co-star while revealing genuine regret that their on-screen partnership never reached its full potential.
Memories of a Grounded Co-Star
According to her recent revelations to Bollywood Hungama, Waheeda remembered Dharmendra as someone who remained deeply connected to his roots despite achieving massive stardom. She described him as essentially unchanged from the sincere young man who arrived in Mumbai from a Punjab village with dreams of becoming an actor. His simplicity and grounded nature left a lasting impression on her throughout their collaborations.
The acclaimed actress acknowledged that while they worked together in several projects, the films they shared were unfortunately not among the most memorable in either of their illustrious careers. This realization has become a point of reflection for the veteran star, who wishes they had better material to showcase their chemistry.
Their Limited But Notable Collaborations
The duo appeared together in a handful of projects spanning different genres, including the 1969 film Khamoshi, the 1973 release Phagun, and the spy thriller Baazi from 1970. Despite these multiple collaborations, Waheeda believes their combined screen presence was never fully utilized to create the cinematic magic it potentially could have.
Speaking specifically about Khamoshi, she recalled that Dharmendra had remarkably limited screen visibility in the film. "In Khamoshi, his face was not even visible. He acted with his back to the camera and still made a strong impression," she noted, praising his ability to command attention and deliver powerful performances even with such constrained opportunities.
Regarding Phagun, Waheeda mentioned that Dharmendra again had a relatively smaller part compared to what his talent deserved. Their thriller Baazi, however, holds a particularly awkward place in her memory. She admitted to feeling some embarrassment about the film now, explaining that it represented a phase where she deliberately pursued glamorous roles to transform her domesticated screen image.
Career Reflections and Regrets
Waheeda revealed that it was fellow actor Rajendra Kumar who encouraged her to experiment with more glamorous roles during that period. She fondly remembered Kumar as someone who affectionately called her 'Mem Saahib' and pushed her to step outside her comfort zone.
Looking back at that career phase, the actress expressed mixed feelings. "I am not very proud of that phase. Sometimes one makes mistakes in one's career, lets go of good films for not-so-good ones. I wish I had done better films with Dharmendra ji," she confessed with honest reflection.
This heartfelt admission highlights the genuine respect she held for Dharmendra as an actor and her disappointment that circumstances never allowed them to collaborate on projects that truly matched their collective talents.
Dharmendra, who recently passed away at age 89 after battling prolonged illness, maintained an active acting career well into his later years. He touched audiences with his heartfelt performance in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani and also appeared in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. His final screen appearance will be in Ikkis, starring Agastya Nanda, giving fans one last opportunity to witness his legendary presence.
