New Delhi: Dharmendra, the legendary Bollywood actor, shared his deep love for acting and his thoughts on life and cinema in an exclusive interview. Even at the age of 82, his passion for films remains strong.
He hopes to leave a lasting impact on his fans and stay connected to humanity through his work. Dig in for more details.
Dharmendra says when I go, people should feel hamara koi jaa raha hai
Dharmendra said acting is not just his profession, it is his “beloved.” He said, “It’s my passion,” when asked how he stayed in the industry for so long. He explained, “Main ruth jaata hoon toh yeh mana leti hai, yeh ruth jaati hai toh main mana leta hoon. We have spent such a long time together, we have never left each other. It will go on as long as it’s possible, and we will maintain this relationship throughout.”
Some of Dharmendra’s famous films include Dholay (1975), Dharamveer (1977), Jugnu (1973), and Pratigya (1975). He talked about how movies ran in theatres for many weeks in his time, and box office money was not as important. “Today, it’s all about the 100 and 200 crore clubs. What does the veteran have to say about this? That I don’t like,” he said. He added, “I am still a man with thousands, small money. I know thousands and lakhs. Also, I don’t get excited about it. Just ho gaya yaar, bas.”
When asked what motivates him to continue acting even at his age, Dharmendra became emotional. “I am still hungry for films, I still think I am a newcomer. Why? Because I want to live in the heart of people,” he said. He expressed his wish to give back to his roots through his films. He said, “When I go, people should feel hamara koi jaa raha hai. I am a human being, and I want to stay connected to humanity. I want to give back to the place I was born in, as much as I can, through my films.”
Recently, Dharmendra was seen in the third instalment of the Yamla Pagla Deewana franchise with his sons Bobby and Sunny. His love for acting and his desire to stay connected to his audience remain strong even after decades in the industry.