Editing Dharmendra (section)

===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>