Editing Dharmendra (section)

==Career==

===1960–1969: Early career and rise to prominence===

Dharmendra was the winner of ''[[Filmfare]]'' magazine's nationally organised new talent award and went to Mumbai from [[Punjab]] to work in the movie. However, it was never made. He later made his film debut in 1960 with [[Arjun Hingorani]]'s [[Romance film|romantic drama]] ''[[Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere]]''.<ref name="Express2">{{cite web|title=Dharmendra – Action King: Romantic hero|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/pictureStory.php?galId=1101&pg=1&view=1|work=The Indian Express|access-date=16 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article868667.ece|title=My First Break: Dharmendra|author=Ranjana Das Gupta|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=4 November 2010|access-date=8 December 2011|location=Chennai, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204212734/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article868667.ece|archive-date=4 December 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The film largely went unnoticed and as a result, did not perform that well at the box office.<ref name="Rewinds"/> He saw his first commercial success in 1961 with [[Ramesh Saigal]]'s ''[[Shola Aur Shabnam (1961 film)|Shola Aur Shabnam]]'' and followed it with hits, such as [[Mohan Kumar (director)|Mohan Kumar]]'s ''[[Anpadh]]'' (1962) and [[Bimal Roy]]'s ''[[Bandini (film)|Bandini]]'' (1963), which won [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=167&catName=MTk2MQ==|title=Box Office 1961|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207075740/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=167&catName=MTk2MQ== |archive-date=7 February 2009 }}</ref><ref name="BOI">{{Cite web|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=168&catName=MTk2Mg==|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922021831/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=168&catName=MTk2Mg%3D%3D|url-status=dead|title=BoxOffice India.com<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=22 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=International film prizes: an encyclopedia|author=Tad Bentley Hammer|publisher=Garland|year=1991|isbn=0-8240-7099-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/internationalfil00hamm/page/223 223]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/internationalfil00hamm/page/223}}</ref>

His breakthrough came in 1964 when he co-starred alongside [[Rajendra Kumar]] and [[Saira Banu]] in another of Mohan Kumar's directional venture ''[[Ayee Milan Ki Bela]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/mgr-and-jayalalitha-in-oru-thai-makkal-1971/article8346001.ece |title=Oru Thai Makkal (1971) Tamil |last=Guy |first=Randor |date=12 March 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=3 March 2019 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=20 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120235834/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/mgr-and-jayalalitha-in-oru-thai-makkal-1971/article8346001.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> It went on to become a superhit and despite playing the antagonist, Dharmendra was noticed by audience and received a nomination in the [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor]] category.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dharmendra gets overwhelmed with love from fans on 88th birthday, says 'pyaare pyaare tohfe aye hain' |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/dharmendra-gets-overwhelmed-with-love-from-fans-on-88th-birthday-says-pyaare-pyaare-tohfe-aye-hain-570342 |work=The Tribune |date=9 December 2023 |access-date=19 April 2024 |archive-date=17 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417174339/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/dharmendra-gets-overwhelmed-with-love-from-fans-on-88th-birthday-says-pyaare-pyaare-tohfe-aye-hain-570342 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="filmfare">{{Cite web|url = https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners|title = Winners list|date = 2023|access-date = 24 March 2024|archive-date = 4 February 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180204095338/https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners|url-status = live}}</ref> That same year, he played the lead role in [[Chetan Anand (director)|Chetan Anand]]'s [[war|war-drama]] ''[[Haqeeqat (1964 film)|Haqeeqat]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/frames-per-second-music-for-tragedy-120061901220_1.html|title=Frames per Second: Music for tragedy|access-date=18 February 2024|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218163901/https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/frames-per-second-music-for-tragedy-120061901220_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Based on the [[Sino-Indian War]] of 1962, the film proved to be a major critical and commercial success, eventually emerging a superhit with one of its song "[[Madan Mohan (composer)|Ab Tumhare Hawaale Watan Saathiyon]]", a solo by [[Mohammed Rafi]] becoming hugely popular among the masses.<ref>{{cite news |title=FLASHBACK 8 July 2022 (From our issue dated 12 July 1997 |url=https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-8-july-2022-from-our-issue-dated-12th-july-1997 |work=Film Information |date=8 July 2022 |access-date=19 April 2024 |archive-date=17 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417200402/https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-8-july-2022-from-our-issue-dated-12th-july-1997/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Sujata Dev|title=Mohammed Rafi Voice Of A Nation|date=October 2015|publisher=OM Books International|isbn=978-9380070971}}</ref> In 1965, he had another major success in Ram Maheshwari's romantic drama ''[[Kaajal]]''.<ref name="Boxoffice">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=171&catName=MTk2NQ== |title=Box office 1965 |publisher=Boxofficeindia.com |access-date=9 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210134027/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=171&catName=MTk2NQ== |archive-date=10 February 2012 }}</ref> The film also had [[Meena Kumari]], [[Raaj Kumar]] and [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] in the lead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/11/19/stories/2010111951391100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216045542/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/11/19/stories/2010111951391100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 December 2013 |title=Kaajal (1965) |date=19 November 2012 |access-date=9 January 2012 |newspaper= [[The Hindu]] |author=Deepak Mahaan}}</ref>

In 1966, Dharmendra reunited with Kumari for [[O. P. Ralhan]]'s ''[[Phool Aur Patthar]]''. The film topped the box office chart in 1966, becoming a major blockbuster and making him a saleable star.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/entertainment/dharmendra-remembers-op-ralhan-reveals-why-he-took-off-his-shirt-in-phool-aur-patthar|title=Dharmendra remembers OP Ralhan, reveals why he took off his shirt in 'Phool Aur Patthar'|first=Subhash K.|last=Jha|date=21 August 2020|website=National Herald|access-date=16 December 2024|archive-date=27 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227212341/https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/entertainment/dharmendra-remembers-op-ralhan-reveals-why-he-took-off-his-shirt-in-phool-aur-patthar|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Top Actors">{{cite web |title=Top Actors |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219165002/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-date=19 February 2008 |access-date=24 April 2020 |work=Box Office India}}</ref> He
received his first nomination in the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor]] category for the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/366575.cms|title=The Filmfare Awards Nominations – 1966|publisher=[[The Times Group]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040323040505/http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/366575.cms|archive-date=23 March 2004}}</ref> The success of ''Phool Aur Patthar'' was followed by hits in ''[[Mamta (1966 film)|Mamta]]'', ''[[Devar]]'', ''[[Anupama (1966 film)|Anupama]]'' and ''[[Aaye Din Bahar Ke]]'', the same year.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5792|title=Akshay Kumar Has A Historic Year|date=8 January 2020|access-date=23 April 2024|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226204807/https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5792|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also given a souvenir at the [[14th National Film Awards]] in recognition of his performance in ''Anupama''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Film awards presented|agency=Press Trust of India|publisher=The Indian Express|date=11 October 1967|pages=7}}</ref> The next year, he worked in commercially unsuccessful, but critically acclaimed films like - ''[[Dulhan Ek Raat Ki]]'' opposite [[Nutan]] and ''[[Majhli Didi]]'', ''[[Chandan Ka Palna]]'', both opposite Kumari.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ghosh |first1=Oindrila |title=Bollywood's Long Love Affair with Thomas Hardy's Novels: Adaptations and Cultural Appropriations |url=https://victorianweb.org/authors/hardy/ghosh.html |website=Victorian Web}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/actor-sachin-feted-as-ambassador-of-urdu/articleshow/103546974.cms|title=Actor Sachin feted as 'Ambassador of Urdu'|newspaper=The Times of India |date=10 September 2023}}</ref> Dharmendra hit the big league in 1968 with [[Atma Ram (director)|Atma Ram]]'s  [[Mystery film|mystery thriller]] ''[[Shikar (1968 film)|Shikar]]'' and [[Ramanand Sagar]]'s [[spy thriller]] ''[[Ankhen (1968 film)|Ankhen]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=ShikarUA |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/shikar/movieshow/61335835.cms |access-date=6 December 2023 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207184714/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/shikar/movieshow/61335835.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/gun-ho-in-bollywood/articleshow/12312314.cms?pcode=other|title=Gun-ho in Bollywood|newspaper=The Times of India|date=18 March 2012|archive-date=3 March 2024|access-date=3 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303144704/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/gun-ho-in-bollywood/articleshow/12312314.cms?pcode=other|url-status=live}}</ref> Both the films opened to positive audience response and proved to be blockbusters at the box office with the latter being the top–earning film that year.<ref name="Rewinds"/> His other commercially successful releases of 1968 were – [[T. Prakash Rao]]'s drama film ''[[Izzat (1968 film)|Izzat]]'' (in which he played a double role) and Amar Kumar's romantic drama ''[[Mere Hamdam Mere Dost]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Devesh |title=We trace Jayalalithaa's Bollywood debut, Izzat (1968) |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/we-trace-jayalalithaas-bollywood-debut-izzat-1968_-17233.html |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=Filmfare |date=5 December 2016 }}</ref> The following year, saw the emergence of superstar [[Rajesh Khanna]], who stormed the nation with back-to-back blockbusters in ''[[Aradhana (1969 film)|Aradhana]]'' and ''[[Do Raaste]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=3385|title=Ittefaq And Thor Battle It Out This Week|date=2 November 2017|access-date=2 March 2024|archive-date=22 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122202707/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=3385|url-status=live}}</ref> With his rise, a number of stars went through career decline.<ref name="froma">{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/314356/from-artistes-brands.html|title=From artistes to brands|date=23 February 2013|access-date=21 January 2024|archive-date=31 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131093856/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/314356/from-artistes-brands.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During this phase, Dharmendra and [[Dev Anand]] were the only actors who remained unaffected by Khanna's popularity.<ref name="froma"/> In 1969, he had a superhit in ''[[Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke]]'', followed by three more successful films, which were - ''[[Yakeen (1969 film)|Yakeen]]'', ''[[Pyar Hi Pyar]]'' and ''[[Aadmi Aur Insaan]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.co.in/worth-their-weight-in-gold/ |title=Worth Their Weight in Gold! - Box Office India : India's premier film trade magazine |work=Box Office India : India’s premier film trade magazine |date=November 2011 |access-date=24 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915183938/http://boxofficeindia.co.in/worth-their-weight-in-gold |archive-date=15 September 2017}}</ref> Dharmendra also received immense acclaim for his portrayal of a righteous man in [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]]'s [[Drama (genre)|social drama]] film ''[[Satyakam]]'', which is widely considered to be his career-best performance by fans as well as critics and went on to win [[National Film Award for Best Hindi Feature Film|National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm17thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=17NFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |publisher=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=23 July 2012 |archive-date=15 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015233600/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm17thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=17NFA.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/15dinesh.htm|title=Satyakam: Dharmendra's career best role|website=rediff.com|access-date=8 August 2023|archive-date=4 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304051029/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/15dinesh.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1970–1977: Superstardom===

In 1970, Dharmendra delivered four major successes and formed a hit pair with [[Hema Malini]].<ref name="Express2"/> His first release was [[Satyen Bose]]'s [[Crime film|crime drama]] ''[[Jeevan Mrityu]]''. An adaptation of [[Alexandre Dumas]]'s novel ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]'', it proved to be major critical and commercial success, eventually emerging a blockbuster and one of the top earners of 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/jeevan-mrityu-1970/article6400941.ece|title=Jeevan Mrityu (1970)|work=[[The Hindu]]|author=Vijay Lokpally|date=11 September 2014|access-date=29 May 2024|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410215127/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/jeevan-mrityu-1970/article6400941.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> His next two films, [[Bhappi Sonie]]'s ''[[Tum Haseen Main Jawan]]'' and [[Asit Sen (director)|Asit Sen]]'s ''[[Sharafat]]'', both opposite Malini proved to be superhits at the box office.<ref name="auto1"/> This was followed by a flop in ''[[Ishq Par Zor Nahin]]'' alongside [[Sadhana Shivdasani|Sadhana]] and a hit in ''[[Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?]]'' with [[Babita]].<ref name="auto1"/> His final release of that year was [[Raj Kapoor]]'s magnum opus ''[[Mera Naam Joker]]'' (in which he played a supporting role). Although the film was a disaster at the time of release, it attained cult status in later years, with many critics hailing it as one of the best Indian films of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/j0uwEr1EQbbKoB83ASpASK/Ten-bigbudget-Bollywood-boxoffice-disasters.html|title=Ten big-budget Bollywood box-office disasters|first=Lata|last=Jha|date=28 September 2015|website=[[Live Mint]]|access-date=30 May 2020|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127003908/https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/j0uwEr1EQbbKoB83ASpASK/Ten-bigbudget-Bollywood-boxoffice-disasters.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/photo-features/cult-hindi-films-that-flopped/photostory/27856115.cms|title=Cult Hindi films that flopped|website=The Times of India|archive-date=18 January 2024|access-date=18 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118105510/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/photo-features/cult-hindi-films-that-flopped/photostory/27856115.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1971, Dharmendra starred in [[Raj Khosla]]'s [[Action film|action drama]] ''[[Mera Gaon Mera Desh]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mera-gaon-mera-desh|title=Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=16 March 2024|archive-date=16 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316211112/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mera-gaon-mera-desh|url-status=live}}</ref> The film went on to become an ''All Time Blockbuster'' and established his image of an action hero.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7382|title=An Action Hero Is Very Dull - Drishyam 2 Is One Horse Race|date=2 December 2022}}</ref> The large success of this film also made the industry shift from romantic to action films.<ref name="Rewinds"/> Dharmendra received his second nomination in the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor]] category for his performance in ''Mera Gaon Mera Desh''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/QFY/3 |title=Starlights of the next issue |date=24 March 1972 |magazine=[[Filmfare]] |last=Karanjia |first=B. K. |author-link=B. K. Karanjia |volume=21 |page=7 |issue=6 |access-date=2 June 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214109/https://indiancine.ma/documents/QFY/3 |url-status=live }}</ref> His success continued in the following year with another massive blockbuster in ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'', a superhit in ''[[Raja Jani]]'' and a hit film, ''[[Samadhi (1972 film)|Samadhi]]'' to go with the major grossers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6097|date=8 November 2020|title=Rewind - Thirty Five Years of Mard|access-date=27 February 2024|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108093055/https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6097|url-status=live}}</ref> The mass hysteria created by ''Mera Gaon Mera Desh'' in 1971, followed by back-to-back hits with ''Seeta Aur Geeta'', ''Raja Jani'' and ''Samadhi'' in 1972 took Dharmendra to the number 1 position among his contemporaries, thus making him a "superstar".<ref>{{citation|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2882|title=Vinod Khanna Passes Away|publisher=[[Box Office India]]|date=27 April 2017|access-date=12 August 2024|archive-date=8 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008201610/https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2882|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Top Actors" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7555|title=Pathaan And The SUPERSTARS Of Indian Cinema|date=8 February 2023|access-date=29 July 2024|archive-date=29 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729094616/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7555|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2013 |title=100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425234438/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |archive-date=25 April 2013 |access-date=12 February 2014 |website=[[IBN Live]]}}</ref>

1973 was the best year of Dharmendra's career with many successes.<ref name="Rewinds"/> His first release, which was [[A. Bhimsingh]]'s [[Crime film|action crime]] film ''[[Loafer (1973 film)|Loafer]],'' emerged a superhit with its songs, including "Aaj Mausam Bada Be-Imaan", "Main Tere Ishq Mein", "Koi Shehri Babu" becoming immensely popular among the masses and making its soundtrack one of the best-selling Hindi film albums of the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sebastian |first=Pradeep |date=16 August 2002 |title=Masala vs. genre |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/08/16/stories/2002081600920300.htm |work=The Hindu |access-date=29 October 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704153626/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/08/16/stories/2002081600920300.htm |archive-date=4 July 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/special/ninty-unforgettable-asha-bhosle-songs/20180908.htm|title=90 UNFORGETTABLE Asha Bhosle Songs|date=8 September 2023|access-date=16 March 2024|archive-date=16 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316211113/https://m.rediff.com/movies/special/ninty-unforgettable-asha-bhosle-songs/20180908.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by [[Mystery film|mystery thriller]] ''[[Jheel Ke Us Paar]]'' and [[Action Film|action drama]] ''[[Jugnu (1973 film)|Jugnu]]''. While ''Jheel Ke Us Paar'' was a hit, the latter proved to be a blockbuster in India as well as Soviet Union, eventually taking 2nd spot at the box office in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7561|title=Worldwide Gross - The Russian And Chinese Factor|date=11 February 2023}}</ref> Owing to its huge success, ''Jugnu'' was also remade in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Guru (1980 film)|Guru]]'' (1980).<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=12 August 2015|title=Sridevi: 5 times the actress bowled us with her performance|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/sridevi-5-times-the-actress-bowled-us-with-her-performance/etphotostory/48450778.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424051532/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/sridevi-5-times-the-actress-bowled-us-with-her-performance/etphotostory/48450778.cms|archive-date=24 April 2024|access-date=14 December 2020|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> His next two releases were - [[Ravikant Nagaich]]'s spy thriller ''[[Keemat (1973 film)|Keemat]]'' and [[Adurthi Subba Rao]]'s light-hearted drama film ''[[Jwaar Bhata]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 September 2016 |title=Keemat (1973) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Keemat-1973/article14993419.ece |access-date=22 March 2022 |archive-date=28 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228034808/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Keemat-1973/article14993419.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nadadhur |first1=Srivathsan |title=Daagudu Moothalu: The 'hidden' treasures unveiled |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/daagudu-moothalu-the-hidden-treasures-unveiled/article7561719.ece |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=The Hindu |date=20 August 2015 |archive-date=6 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206140748/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/daagudu-moothalu-the-hidden-treasures-unveiled/article7561719.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Both the films received critical acclaim and emerged moderately successful.<ref name="Rewinds"/> Towards the end of the year, Dharmendra appeared in ''[[Yaadon Ki Baaraat]]'', ''[[Blackmail (1973 film)|Blackmail]]'' and ''[[Kahani Kismat Ki]]''. ''Yaadon Ki Baaraat'', directed by [[Nasir Hussain]] and written by [[Salim-Javed]] is widely identified as the first [[masala film]] of [[Indian cinema]] and proved to be another blockbuster for the actor as well as the second best-selling [[Hindi film music|Bollywood]] album of the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news|date=30 March 2017|title=How film-maker Nasir Husain started the trend for Bollywood masala films|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/how-film-maker-nasir-husain-created-the-prototype-for-bollywood-masala-films/story-ckL6zPLHJFDYoupjFBtbfN.html|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-date=5 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505013953/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/how-film-maker-nasir-husain-created-the-prototype-for-bollywood-masala-films/story-ckL6zPLHJFDYoupjFBtbfN.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Rewinds"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Music Hits 1970-1979|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5|publisher=[[Box Office India]]|date=5 February 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205042855/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 | archive-date=5 February 2010 }}</ref> On the other hand, [[Vijay Anand (filmmaker)|Vijay Anand]]'s [[Romance film|romantic thriller]] ''Blackmail'' was an unsuccessful venture critically and commercially, but reception later improved, with many calling it one of Anand's most underrated works.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Black-Mail-1973/article15006250.ece|title=Black Mail (1973)|first=Anuj|last=Kumar|date=30 September 2016|access-date=17 November 2021|website=Thehindu.com|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117130920/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Black-Mail-1973/article15006250.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The song "Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas" filmed on Dharmendra and Raakhee was a chartbuster and remains popular in modern culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ndtv.in/bollywood/song-pal-pal-dil-ke-paas-from-film-blackmail-was-shot-without-recording-dharmendra-rakhee-movie-4523782|title=बिना रिकॉर्डिंग के कैसे शूट हुआ फिल्म ब्लैक मेल का सुपरहिट गाना 'पल पल दिल के पास तुम रहती हो', किस्सा है बेहद दिलचस्प|date=28 October 2023}}</ref> His final release of the year, Arjun Hingorani's actioner ''Kahani Kismat Ki'' continued his dream run and emerged a superhit at the box office.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/kahani-kismat-ki-1973/article8026032.ece|title=Kahani Kismat Ki (1973)|newspaper=The Hindu|date=24 December 2015|archive-date=16 March 2024|access-date=16 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316211856/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/kahani-kismat-ki-1973/article8026032.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, Dharmendra added one more blockbuster in his kitty with [[Dulal Guha]]'s social drama ''[[Dost (1974 film)|Dost]]'' co-starring [[Shatrughan Sinha]] and Hema Malini.<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{Cite web |title=Rewind - Greatest Indian Film Sholay Is 43 Years Old |url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4183|publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> The huge box office success of ''Dost'' was followed by moderate successes in ''[[Patthar Aur Payal]]'' and ''[[Resham Ki Dori]]''. For his performance in the latter, Dharmendra received his fourth and final nomination in the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor]] category.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Filmfare Awards Winners From 1953 to 2024 |url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners |magazine=Filmfare |access-date=25 April 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204095338/https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[The Emergency (India)|The 1975 Emergency]] had angered the public, and this helped films featuring the lead character revolting against corruption and establishment become successes. The shift from romantic and social movies to action-oriented multi-starrers changed the box office. The year saw the rise of another superstar, [[Amitabh Bachchan]], but Dharmendra remained rock-steady and continued to deliver huge hits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/indepth-stories/dharmendra-bollywoods-dreamboat|title=Dharmendra, Hollywood's Dreamboat|date=8 December 2022|access-date=9 October 2024|archive-date=26 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126143630/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/indepth-stories/dharmendra-bollywoods-dreamboat|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1975, Dharmendra appeared alongside Bachchan in two films. The first was Mukherjee's light-hearted comedy ''[[Chupke Chupke (film)|Chupke Chupke]]''.<ref name="GulzarNihalani2003">{{cite book|author1=Gulzar|author2=Govind Nihalani|author3=Saibal Chatterjee|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC&pg=PT371|access-date=29 October 2012|year=2003|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7991-066-5|pages=371–}}</ref> It received positive response from critics and went on to become a hit at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/hrishikesh-mukherjee-chupke-chupke-subtle-antidote-to-angry-young-man-era-7915586/|title=Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Chupke Chupke was the subtle antidote to the 'angry young man' era; a balance we have forgotten today|date=14 May 2022}}</ref> The second was [[Ramesh Sippy]]'s actioner ''[[Sholay]]''.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} It released on 15 August 1975, [[Independence Day (India)|Indian Independence Day]], in Bombay. Due to lackluster reviews and a lack of effective visual marketing tools, it saw poor financial returns in its first two weeks. However, from the third week onward, viewership picked up owing to positive [[word of mouth]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=169}} During the initial slow period, the director and writer considered re-shooting some scenes so that Amitabh Bachchan's character would not die. When business picked up, they abandoned this idea.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=164}} After additionally releasing a soundtrack containing dialogue snippets,{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} ''Sholay'' soon became an "overnight sensation".<ref name="ndtv">{{Cite web |date=14 August 2010 |title=35 years on, the Sholay fire still burns |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612074406/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[NDTV]]}}</ref> The film was then released in other distribution zones such as Delhi, [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[West Bengal|Bengal]], and [[Hyderabad district, India|Hyderabad]] on 11 October 1975.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=173}} It became the highest-grossing Hindi-language film of 1975, and film ranking website [[Box Office India]] has given the film a verdict of ''All Time Blockbuster''.<ref name="boxofficeindia.com"/> ''Sholay'' went on to earn a still-standing record of 60 golden jubilees{{efn|A golden jubilee means that a film has completed 50 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} across India,<ref name="ndtv" /> and was the first film in India to celebrate a silver jubilee{{efn|A silver jubilee means that a film has completed 25 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} at over 100 theatres.<ref name="ndtv" /> It was shown continuously at Bombay's Minerva Theatre for over five years and in Kolkata's [[Jyoti Cinema (Kolkata)|Jyoti Cinema]] for almost two years.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Kelly|title=Scan This Book!|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/magazine/14publishing.html|work=[[New York Times Magazine]]|date=14 May 2006|access-date=7 March 2008|archive-date=10 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210150624/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/magazine/14publishing.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6042|title=All Time Longest Runners In Kolkata: Sholay 2nd - HAHK 4th|access-date=15 February 2024|archive-date=15 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215180207/https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6042|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Sholay'' was the Indian film with the longest theatrical run until ''[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]'' (1995) broke its record of 286 weeks in 2001.{{sfn|Elliott|Payne|Ploesch|2007 |p=54}}<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news |date=3 February 2013 |title=900 not out! |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225327/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in 2016.jpg|thumb|Dharmendra and [[Amitabh Bachchan|Bachchan]] starrer ''Sholay'' (1975) recorded an estimated {{INR}}15-18 crore footfalls, making it the highest grossing Indian film in terms of audience attendance to date.]]

Before the end of year, he delivered another blockbuster in ''[[Pratigya (1975 film)|Pratiggya]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/zakhmee-1975/article5809755.ece|title=Zakhmee (1975)|last=Malhotra|first=Aps|newspaper=The Hindu|date=20 March 2014|via=www.thehindu.com|archive-date=24 October 2023|access-date=21 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024134010/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/zakhmee-1975/article5809755.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The film along with its strong action scenes also had a significant comic track in the form of "[[slapstick]]" comedy which led to it being referred as a "masterpiece in comedy".<ref name="Raj2009">{{cite book|author=Ashok Raj|title=Hero Vol.2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2wo9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT80|access-date=18 September 2014|date=1 November 2009|publisher=Hay House, Inc|isbn=978-93-81398-03-6|pages=80–}}</ref><ref name="IndiaPerspectives">{{cite book|title=India Perspectives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuhtAAAAMAAJ|access-date=18 September 2014|year=2005|publisher=PTI for the Ministry of External Affairs}}</ref> In 1976, Dharmendra reunited with Ramanand Sagar for the action thriller ''[[Charas (1976 film)|Charas]]''. Set against the backdrop of the [[Expulsion of Asians from Uganda|expulsion of Indian community from Uganda]] by its dictator [[Idi Amin]] in 1972, it opened to bumper response all over the nation and emerged a superhit at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hindi.news18.com/photogallery/entertainment/bollywood-dharmendra-hema-malini-second-blockbuster-baghavat-film-was-made-on-the-lines-of-superhit-charas-ramanand-sagar-was-earned-shockingly-a-lot-of-money-by-3-films-7999673.html|title=सुपरहिट 'चरस' के तर्ज पर बनी, धर्मेंद्र-हेमा मालिनी की दूसरी फिल्म, लगातार 3 हिट से रामानंद सागर ने कूटे खूब पैसे|date=25 January 2024}}</ref> His other release of the year, [[M. A. Thirumugam]]'s [[Family film|family drama]] film ''[[Maa (1976 film)|Maa]]'' was thrashed by critics, but still went on to become a success.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-14-342111-5 |location=Delhi |pages=98 |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |orig-date=2012}}</ref> The year 1977 proved to be a big one for Dharmendra with a mega blockbuster in [[Manmohan Desai]]'s [[Action Film|action drama]] ''[[Dharam Veer (film)|Dharam Veer]]'', a superhit in another of Desai's [[Masala film|masala]] film ''[[Chacha Bhatija]]'', followed by two more successful films in Arjun Hingorani's [[Thriller (genre)|mystery thriller]] ''[[Khel Khilari Ka]]'' and Pramod Chakravorty's action comedy ''[[Dream Girl (1977 film)|Dream Girl]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7993|title=Top Ten All Time Bihar - Gadar 2 Smashes All RECORDS|date=6 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/recentpost/flashback-1977-trade-informa-2531|title=Flashback 1977 - Trade Guide Classification|date=8 August 2024|access-date=16 August 2024|archive-date=14 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814072717/https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/recentpost/flashback-1977-trade-informa-2531|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, ''Dharam Veer'' had 23 shows in 5 cities. Driven by the success of Rafi's songs, the film took a record initial of £50,000 in the UK, equivalent to {{INRConvert|{{#expr:50000*(1000/{{To USD|1000|IND|year=1977}}) round -1}}|year=1977|mode=historical}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=United Kingdom Evolution - £100k To £4 Million Of Pathaan |url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7602 |access-date=2 March 2023 |work=[[Box Office India]] |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302113326/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7602 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, the film sold 32 million tickets in the Soviet Union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dharam Veer |url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/97001/ |access-date=15 August 2023 |website=[[KinoPoisk]] |language=ru}}</ref>

===1978–1997: Continued success and occasional setbacks===

Post-1977, the quality of Dharmendra's films dropped and so the number of huge grossers, but his initial draw remained intact, owing to which the flow of successes continued till the 1990s.<ref name="Rewinds"/> In 1978, he had four major releases which included ''[[Shalimar (1978 film)|Shalimar]]'', ''[[Azaad (1978 film)|Azaad]]'', ''[[Dillagi (1978 film)|Dillagi]]'' and ''[[Phandebaaz]]''. Out of these, ''Shalimar'' and ''Phandebaaz'' were critical and commercial failures while ''Azaad'' and ''Dillagi'', both co-starring Malini emerged successful, especially the former which was a superhit as well as [[List of Hindi films of 1978|fourth highest-grossing film of the year]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=8936|title=Game Changer Dull First Week - Emergency and Azaad Opening|date=17 January 2024}}</ref> The following year, he added one more superhit in his kitty with Mohan Sehgal's ''[[Kartavya (1979 film)|Kartavya]]'' and a successful film with Dulal Guha's ''[[Dil Kaa Heera]]''.<ref name=TG1979>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Trade-Guide-1979-Classificaiton.jpg|title=Trade Guide Classification - 1979|access-date=28 August 2024|archive-date=27 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827205309/https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Trade-Guide-1979-Classificaiton.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Dharmendra began the 1980s with [[Ravi Chopra]]'s big-budget [[Action fiction|action thriller]] ''[[The Burning Train]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saxena |first=Poonam |date=27 July 2023 |title=Flooded cities, burning trains: Poonam Saxena on the timeless lure of cinematic disaster |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/the-burning-train-1980-a-disaster-film-of-its-time-documenting-film-history-and-trivia-for-nostalgia-101687610534404.html |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |quote=The story goes that BR Chopra's son Ravi Chopra saw The Towering Inferno (1974) while on a trip abroad and was very taken up with the story of a fire that engulfs the world's tallest skyscraper on its opening night. |access-date=10 September 2024 |archive-date=2 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702052259/https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/the-burning-train-1980-a-disaster-film-of-its-time-documenting-film-history-and-trivia-for-nostalgia-101687610534404.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film co-starring [[Jeetendra]], [[Vinod Khanna]], Hema Malini and [[Parveen Babi]] didn't live up to the expectations and ended up as an average fare, however gained cult status in later years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/celebs/heres-why-the-burning-train-continues-to-be-the-coolest-disaster-thriller-film-522205.html|title=Here's Why The Burning Train Continues To Be The Coolest Disaster Thriller Film Till Date|date=7 September 2020|access-date=18 January 2024|archive-date=18 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118204915/https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/celebs/heres-why-the-burning-train-continues-to-be-the-coolest-disaster-thriller-film-522205.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His next two releases were - ''[[Adventures of Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves (film)|Alibaba Aur 40 Chor]]'' and ''[[Ram Balram]]''. While the former was a moderate success, the latter in which he reunited with Bachchan proved to be a box office hit.<ref name=FI1980>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Film-Inf-1980-Classification.jpg|title=Summing Up 1980 - Film Information Classification (1980)}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1981, he had a superhit in ''[[Kaatilon Ke Kaatil]]'', but other releases, such as ''[[Aas Paas]]'' and ''[[Krodhi]]'' failed to leave a mark while [[Brij Sadanah]]'s big-budget actioner ''[[Professor Pyarelal]]'' ended up as an average grosser.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 May 2020 |title=The Best Films Of Rishi Kapoor - Bobby Has Historic Numbers |publisher=boxofficeindia.com |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6050 |access-date=1 May 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501110812/https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6050 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/40-years-of-jackie-shroff-starrer-hero-director-subhash-ghai-hints-at-sequel-101702630889625.html|title=40 years of Jackie Shroff-starrer Hero: Director Subhash Ghai hints at sequel|work=Hindustan Times |date=18 December 2023}}</ref> This changed in 1982 as five of his films emerged commercial successes, these were - ''[[Rajput (film)|Rajput]]'', ''[[Badle Ki Aag]]'', ''[[Ghazab]]'', ''[[Baghavat]]'' and ''[[Samraat (film)|Samraat]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Trade-Guide-1982-Classification.jpg|title=Trade Guide Classification 1982|access-date=10 September 2024|archive-date=8 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908141622/https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Trade-Guide-1982-Classification.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1983, Dharmendra delivered a hit in [[Rajkumar Kohli]]'s comedy film ''[[Naukar Biwi Ka]]'', followed by another success, ''[[Qayamat (1983 film)|Qayamat]]'', but his most anticipated film of that year, [[Kamal Amrohi]]'s [[Biographical film|period biographical]] film ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' was a box office [[Box-office bomb|disaster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Film-Inf-1983-Classification.jpg|title=Film Informatiom Classification 1983|access-date=17 September 2024|archive-date=8 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908124607/https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Film-Inf-1983-Classification.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kamal Amrohi's dream film Razia Sultan bombs at the box-office |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19831015-kamal-amrohi-dream-film-razia-sultan-bombs-at-the-box-office-771082-2013-07-17 |last=Kapoor |first=Sunil Sethi Coomi |website=[[India Today]] |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=21 May 2020 |archive-date=17 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217041352/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19831015-kamal-amrohi-dream-film-razia-sultan-bombs-at-the-box-office-771082-2013-07-17 |url-status=live }}</ref> The next year, he had seven releases, out of which ''[[Baazi (1984 film)|Baazi]]'', ''[[Jagir (film)|Jagir]]'', ''[[Jeene Nahi Doonga]]'' and ''[[Dharm Aur Qanoon]]'' did reasonable business, but rest were critical and commercial failures.<ref name="FI1984">{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Film-Information-1984-Classifica.jpg|title=FI Classification (1984)}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1985, Dharmendra starred in [[J. P. Dutta]]'s action drama film ''[[Ghulami]]'' which also had [[Mithun Chakraborty]], [[Naseeruddin Shah]], [[Reena Roy]] and [[Smita Patil]] in the lead. The film opened to positive reviews from critics and emerged a superhit as well as one of the top five highest-earners of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Trade-Guide-1985-Classification.jpg|title=Trade Guide Classification 1985}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Its song, "Zeehale Muskin Makun ba-Ranjish", sung by [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Shabbir Kumar]] was a chartbuster and was featured in the year-end annual list of [[Binaca Geetmala]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/binacageetmala/search-detail/page=2|title=Binaca Geetmala (1985)}}</ref> The following year, he had another commercial success with Ambrish Sangal's ''[[Begaana (1986 film)|Begaana]]'' (1986), co-starring [[Kumar Gaurav]] and [[Rati Agnihotri]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Film-Inf-Classification-1986.jpg|title=Film Information Classification (1986)}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Dharmendra returned to the big league in 1987 by delivering eight successful films in the year. His first two releases were - Rajkumar Kohli's and [[Raj N. Sippy]]'s actioners ''[[Insaniyat Ke Dushman]]'' and ''[[Loha (1987 film)|Loha]]'', respectively, both of which proved to be box office hits.<ref name=TG1987>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/TG-Classification-1987.jpg|title=Trade Guide Classification 1987}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He then appeared in ''[[Dadagiri (film)|Dadagiri]]'', ''[[Hukumat]]'' and ''[[Aag Hi Aag]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aag Hi Aag |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aag_hi_aag_1987}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Kanwar, Rachna |title=25 Must See Bollywood Movies |date=3 October 2005 |url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/Special_Features/25_Must_See_Bollywood_Movies/articleshow/msid-1250837,curpg-10.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015033756/http://movies.indiatimes.com/Special_Features/25_Must_See_Bollywood_Movies/articleshow/msid-1250837%2Ccurpg-10.cms |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 October 2007 |publisher=Indiatimes movies |accessdate=8 November 2010 }}</ref>  While ''Dadagiri'' was an average fare, the latter two went on to become superhits with ''Hukumat'' emerging as the [[List of Hindi films of 1987|highest-grossing film of the year]].<ref name=TG1987/> This was followed by [[T. Rama Rao]]'s hit venture ''[[Watan Ke Rakhwale]]'' and two more successful films, ''[[Insaaf Kaun Karega]]'' with [[Rajinikanth]] and ''[[Insaf Ki Pukar]]'', co-starring Jeetendra.<ref name=TG1987/> His other hit ventures of the decade, include ''[[Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988 film)|Khatron Ke Khiladi]]'' (1988) and ''[[Elaan-E-Jung]]'' (1989).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/FI-1988-Classifications.jpg|title=Film Information Classification (1988)}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6251|title=Rewind - Twenty Years Of Gadar|date=15 June 2021|access-date=19 January 2024|archive-date=19 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119053002/https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6251|url-status=live}}</ref>

With the advent of the 1990s, Dharmendra's star power began to wane. From 1990 to 1992, his successful films included ''[[Sridevi|Naakabandi]]'' (1990), ''[[Veeru Dada]]'' (1990), ''[[Humse Na Takrana]]'' (1990), ''[[Kohraam]]'' (1991), ''[[Virodhi (1992 film)|Virodhi]]'' (1992) and ''[[Tahalka]]'' (1992), which also proved to be his final hit as a lead actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/FI-Classification-1990.jpg|title=FI Classification (1990)}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/TG-1991-Classifications-P1.jpg|title=Trade Guide Classification (1991)}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="auto"/> In 1993, he appeared in J. P. Dutta's ensemble action film ''[[Kshatriya (film)|Kshatriya]]'' co-starring [[Sunil Dutt]], [[Vinod Khanna]], [[Rakhee Gulzar]], [[Sanjay Dutt]], [[Sunny Deol]], [[Meenakshi Seshadri]], [[Raveena Tandon]] and [[Divya Bharti]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kshatriya|title=Kshatriya &#124; Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com|access-date=24 April 2024|archive-date=22 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422221801/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kshatriya|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Kshatriya'' took a record opening, but collections dropped after it was pulled from theatres owing to Dutt's involvement in the [[1993 Bombay bombings]] and it ended up as a flop.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4419|title=Opening Day Records Since 1990 - 34 Films|date=9 November 2019|access-date=8 December 2024|archive-date=28 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328143742/https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4419|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/movies/why-1993-multi-starrer-film-kshatriya-flopped-because-of-sanjay-dutt-8732108.html|title=Why 1993 Multi-starrer Film Kshatriya Flopped Because Of Sanjay Dutt|date=8 January 2024|access-date=2 February 2024|archive-date=16 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616051736/https://www.news18.com/movies/why-1993-multi-starrer-film-kshatriya-flopped-because-of-sanjay-dutt-8732108.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the mid-1990s, he delivered average fares in ''[[Policewala Gunda]]'' (1995) and ''[[Mafia (1996 film)|Mafia]]'' (1996), but his other releases, including biggies, such as ''[[Maidan-E-Jung]]'' (1995) and ''[[Return of Jewel Thief]]'' (1996) proved to be box office failures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2976|title=Policewala Gunda -Movie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2798|title=Mafia- Movie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3004|title=Maidan-E-Jung – Movie|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2744|title=Return Of Jewel Thief – Movie|publisher=[[Box Office India]]|access-date=18 December 2023|archive-date=7 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407052234/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2744|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1997, Dharmendra received the [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award]]. While accepting the award from [[Dilip Kumar]] and his wife [[Saira Banu]], he became emotional and remarked that he had never won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor]] despite having worked in so many successful films and nearly a hundred popular films.<ref>{{cite web|title=The real stars of Bollywood|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/mar/11corner.htm|publisher=Rediff|access-date=23 December 2010|date=11 March 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310070326/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/mar/11corner.htm|archive-date=10 March 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Speaking on this 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?".<ref>{{cite web|title=I was the Salman Khan of my days: Dharmendra|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/i-was-the-salman-khan-of-my-days-dharmendra/495016/0|work=The Financial Express|access-date=23 December 2010|date=28 July 2009|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011132933/https://www.financialexpress.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1998–present: Shift to character roles ===

Since the late-1990s, Dharmendra has appeared in character roles. His first film in such a role was [[Sohail Khan]]'s [[romantic comedy]] ''[[Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998 film)|Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya]]'' (1998), co-starring [[Salman Khan]], [[Kajol]] and [[Arbaaz Khan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pyaar-kiya-to-darna-kya|title=Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=3 May 2024|archive-date=3 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503204408/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pyaar-kiya-to-darna-kya|url-status=live}}</ref> The film received positive reviews from critics and became a superhit at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2583|title=Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya – Movie|publisher=[[Box Office India]]|access-date=16 August 2023|archive-date=1 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801111948/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2583|url-status=live}}</ref>

His first two major releases of the new decade were ''[[Kaise Kahoon Ke... Pyaar Hai]]'' (2003) and ''[[Kis Kis Ki Kismat]]'' (2004), both of which were box office failures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=573|title=KAISE KAHOON KE... PYAAR HAI|access-date=19 January 2024|archive-date=19 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119193450/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=573|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=1790|title=KIS KIS KI KISMET|access-date=19 January 2024|archive-date=19 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119193451/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=1790|url-status=live}}</ref> After this, Dharmendra went on a hiatus for a brief period and returned with three films in 2007. These were - [[Anurag Basu]]'s drama film ''[[Life in a... Metro]]'', [[Anil Sharma (director)|Anil Sharma]]'s [[Sports film|sports drama]] ''[[Apne]]'' and [[Sriram Raghavan]]'s [[Neo-noir|neo-noir thriller]] ''[[Johnny Gaddaar]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/indian-movie-remakes-that-just-didn-t-work-762327.html|title = Indian movie remakes that just didn't work|date = 18 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/apne|title=Apne (2007)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=18 February 2024|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218162916/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/apne|url-status=live}}</ref> Both, ''Life in a... Metro'' and ''Apne'' proved to be critical and commercial successes.<ref name="Life In A Metro - Movie">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=348|title=Life In A Metro - Movie|publisher=Box Office India}}</ref><ref name="boxofficeindia.com-Apne">{{Cite web |title=Apne – Movie – Box Office India |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=227 |website=boxofficeindia.com |access-date=1 June 2021 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516021701/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=227|url-status=live}}</ref> On the other hand, ''Johnny Gaddaar'', despite failing at the box office, received praise from critics and attained cult status in later years.<ref name="CNN-IBN"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Movie reviews: Johnny Ghaddar|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Movie-reviews/222703/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122134754/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Movie-reviews/222703/|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2013|publisher=[[Indian Express]]|date=30 September 2007}}</ref> The same year, he made a guest appearance in the song "Deewangi Deewangi" from [[Farah Khan]]'s blockbuster [[Reincarnation|reincarnation drama]] ''[[Om Shanti Om]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/10-years-of-om-shanti-om-farah-khan-interview-with-anupama-chopra|title=10 Years of Om Shanti Om with Farah Khan|date=9 November 2017|access-date=18 September 2024|archive-date=20 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120212159/https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/10-years-of-om-shanti-om-farah-khan-interview-with-anupama-chopra|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, Dharmendra starred in ''[[Yamla Pagla Deewana]]'' and ''[[Tell Me O Kkhuda]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yamla Pagla Deewana |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/previews/Yamla-Pagla-Deewana/articleshow/7082416.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104043925/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-11/bollywood/28257409_1_bobby-deol-sunny-deol-yamla-pagla-deewana |url-status=live |archive-date=4 November 2012 |access-date=13 December 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=11 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-06/news-interviews/28068118_1_hema-malini-s-pics-mayur-puri-vinod-khanna |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021095425/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-06/news-interviews/28068118_1_hema-malini-s-pics-mayur-puri-vinod-khanna |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Hema remaking Mama Mia? |date=6 October 2009}}</ref> While the latter was a commercial disaster, ''Yamla Pagla Deewana'' performed very well and emerged a box office hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=850|title=Tell Me O Kkhuda|access-date=19 January 2024|archive-date=19 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119161937/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=850|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=35|title=Yamla Pagla Deewana - Movie |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> He then appeared in sequels to ''Yamla Pagla Deewana'', 
''[[Yamla Pagla Deewana 2]]'' (2013) and ''[[Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se]]'' (2018), but unlike the first film, both the sequels received poor audience response.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=1|title=Dharmendra (Filmography)|access-date=31 January 2024|archive-date=31 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131141712/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, he appeared in [[Karan Johar]]'s ensemble [[family drama]] ''[[Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani]]''. It opened to a polarising response from reviewers but grossed over {{INRConvert|3.5|b|year=2023}} worldwide and proved to be a hit as well as the [[List of Indian films of 2023|tenth highest-grossing Indian film]] of the year.<ref name="Box Office India">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7962|title=Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani Emerges HIT Due to Overseas|publisher=Box Office India|access-date=24 August 2023|archive-date=24 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824075755/https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=7962|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="boxoffww">{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/worldwide/2023/|title=Bollywood Top Grossers Worldwide 2023|access-date=11 August 2023|website=Bollywood Hungama|archive-date=26 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126125943/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/worldwide/2023/|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, Dharmendra co-starred alongside [[Shahid Kapoor]] and [[Kriti Sanon]] in the [[romantic comedy]] ''[[Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/teri_baaton_mein_aisa_uljha_jiya|title=Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya &#124; Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com|access-date=19 April 2024|archive-date=29 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329160838/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/teri_baaton_mein_aisa_uljha_jiya|url-status=live}}</ref> The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics, but still did a lifetime business of {{INRConvert|1.3|b|year=2024}} worldwide to emerge a commercial success.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=8418|title=A Decent First Quarter - Shaitaan Leads Classifications|access-date=19 April 2024|archive-date=19 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419181911/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=8418|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Frequent collaborations===
Dharmendra's most successful pairing was with Hema Malini, whom he later married.<ref name="Express2"/> The couple performed together in many films including ''Tum Haseen Main Jawaan'', ''Sharafat'', ''Naya Zamana'', ''Seeta Aur Geeta'', ''Raja Jani'', ''Jugnu'', ''Dost'', ''Patthar Aur Payal'', ''Sholay'', ''Charas'', ''Maa'', ''Chacha Bhatija'' and ''Azaad''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/movies/when-dharmendra-hema-malinis-guest-appearance-overshadowed-this-films-lead-pair-8725262.html|title=When Dharmendra, Hema Malini's Guest Appearance Overshadowed This Film's Lead Pair|date=2 January 2024}}</ref>

He has worked with various directors, each with a different style of filmmaking.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dharmendra – Action King: Comic leanings|url=https://www.couponraja.in/theroyale/dharmendra-action-king-comic-leanings/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910131758/https://www.couponraja.in/theroyale/dharmendra-action-king-comic-leanings/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2018|work=The Royale|access-date=23 December 2010}}</ref> His longest collaboration was with director Arjun Hingorani from 1960 to 1991. ''Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere'' was the debut film of Dharmendra as an actor and Arjun's first directorial venture with Dharmendra as the lead hero.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news |last1=Jaisinghani |first1=Bella |title=Arjun Hingorani dead: Director Arjun Hingorani who introduced Sadhana and Dharmendra dies at 92 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/director-arjun-hingorani-who-introduced-sadhana-and-dharmendra-dies-at-92/articleshow/64055050.cms |access-date=26 April 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=6 May 2018 |language=en |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619110009/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/director-arjun-hingorani-who-introduced-sadhana-and-dharmendra-dies-at-92/articleshow/64055050.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name= "Joshi">{{cite book |last=Joshi |first=Sumit |title=Bollywood Through Ages |publisher=Best Book Reads |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=WHQWCgAAQBAJ&q=Arjun+Hingorani&pg=PT65|isbn=9781311676696}}</ref> They worked together in ''[[Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?]]'', ''Kahani Kismat Ki'', ''Khel Khilari Ka'', ''Katilon Ke Kaatil'' and ''[[Kaun Kare Kurbanie]]'' where Arjun Hingorani was the producer and the director, and ''Sultanat'' and ''[[Karishma Kudrat Kaa]]'', produced by [[Arjun Hingorani]]. He worked with director [[Pramod Chakravorty]] in ''Naya Zamana'', ''Jugnu'', ''Dream Girl'' and ''Azaad''. [[Anil Sharma (director)|Anil Sharma]] worked with him in many films including ''Hukumat'', ''Elaan-E-Jung'', ''[[Farishtay]]'', ''Tahalka'' and ''Apne''.

===Works in other languages===
In the starting of his film career he worked in the Bengali film ''[[Paari (1966 film)|Paari]]'' (1966) directed by Jagannath Chatterjee. The film also featured [[Dilip Kumar]] and [[Keshto Mukherjee]] in key roles.<ref name=N18>{{cite news | url=https://www.news18.com/blogs/movies/amitava-nag/throwback-thursday-1966-and-the-filmic-conquests-for-bengali-cinema-14057-1217345.html | title=1966 and the filmic conquests for Bengali cinema | publisher=News18 | first=Amitava | last=Nag | date=18 March 2016 | accessdate=20 June 2021}}</ref>

He has periodically appeared in films in his native tongue of [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], starring in ''[[Kankan De Ohle]]'' (1970), ''[[Do Sher]]'' (1974), ''[[Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam]]'' (1974), ''[[Teri Meri Ik Jindri]]'' (1975), ''[[Putt Jattan De]]'' (1982) and ''[[Qurbani Jatt Di]]'' (1990). He returned to Punjabi cinema after a gap with the 2014 film ''[[Double Di Trouble]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dharmendra is all set to play a double role|last=Lalwani|first=Vickey|work=The Times of India|date=9 October 2013|access-date=19 June 2016|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Dharmendra-Minnisha-Lamba-Poonam-Dhillon-Ragini-Khanna-Ghuggi-and-Gippy-Grewal/articleshow/23775842.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028172307/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Dharmendra-Minnisha-Lamba-Poonam-Dhillon-Ragini-Khanna-Ghuggi-and-Gippy-Grewal/articleshow/23775842.cms|archive-date=28 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>