- It is said that on the sets of Sholay, Dharmendra paid Rs. 20 each times to the light boys who were asked to disturb the scene while Dharmendra was teaching Hema Malini how to shoot with a revolver. So more than Rs. 2000 were given to the light boys for hugging Hema at his will.
- On August 21, 1979 he converted to Islam, changed his name to Dilawar Khan, got married to actress Hema Malini, as his first wife, Prakash Kaur, could not be divorced either as she was mother his 4 children and he had fallen in love with Hema Malini only from 1975 whereas had married Prakash Kaur in 1954. In accordance with the Hindu Marriage Act it is illegal for a Hindu to get re-married when his first wife is still alive. Two Congress party-members have launched law-suits against him under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code in this connection as he failed to make a declaration of his religion when he joined the Janata Party.
- Dharmendra and Hema Malini are one of the most popular and commercially successful onscreen pairs of Indian cinema. They were also voted as the most good looking onscreen couple as both of them were considered the most handsome and most beautiful actor and actress of their time.
- Hindi megastar
- Dharmendra has worked with most of the leading actors of Hindi cinema including Rajendra Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Ashok Kumar, Biswajit, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Salman Khan and actresses such as Nutan, Waheeda Rehman, Saira Banu, Nanda, Asha Parekh, Hema Malini, Raakhee, Rekha, Sridevi.
- Cousin of Bollywood director Guddu Dhanoa.
- Dharmendra also has the distinction of appearing in several films opposite actresses who have also starred opposite his son Sunny Deol. Notable among those are Sridevi in Naaka Bandi, Jaya Prada in Elaan-E-Jung, Dimple Kapadia in Shehzaade, Amrita Singh in Sachai Ki Taaqat, Kimi Katkar in Humlaa and Poonam Dhillon in Sone Pe Suhaaga.
- By the end of 1983, Dharmendra had done only forty-three multi-star cast films and seventy-one solo hero films. From 1984 onward, he accepted too many multi-star action films such that by 2013, his multi-star cast film tally stands at one hundred fifty-eight, and solo hero films only at eighty-five.
- Daughter Ajeeta Chaudri works as a school psychologist (Special Education Services) at an elementary school in San Francisco.
- Signed Amar Akbar Anthony but opted out due to a problem with Manmohan Desai. Vinod Khanna then signed the role.
- Dharmendra was among the highest paid Hindi film stars of 1970s.
- Father of Bollywood stars Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol from his first marriage.
- He is the only actor to have starred with almost all the Kapoor members. He did not star with Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Kapoor.
- Did thirteen B-grade Action films with Hemant Birje from 1991-2003.
- Dharmendra is one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema. He is considered one of the most handsome men, not only in India but worldwide. He gained titles such as "He-Man" and "Garam Dharam" for his looks and popularity in action films.
- He was a romantic hero till Rajesh Khanna entered the scene in end of year 1969. Dharmendra's career shifted from being a romantic hero to action hero with Mera Gaon Mera Desh directed by Raj Khosla.
- He having acted in woman oriented films as a supporting actor from 1960-68 and having achieved success in romantic films from 1968-71 and also in action films from 1971-1974, began to be called a versatile actor by 1975. His comic timing in comedy films like Tum Haseen Main Jawan, Do Chor, Chupke Chupke, Dillagi , Naukar Biwi Ka were appreciated.
- Dharmendra launched his production house Vijayta Films in 1983 with the film Betaab that was the debut of his son Sunny Deol. The film went on to become a huge hit. Later he produced Ghayal in 1990, also starring his son Sunny Deol in lead. The film became one of the biggest hits of the year and won 7 Filmfare Awards including Best Film award. Dharmendra received National Award for Best Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for Ghayal as a producer.
- He stopped taking up lead roles in B-grade movies from 2003. As a supporting actor he achieved success with Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, and made a come-back to A-grade Hindi films with successful films like Life in a Metro (2007), Apne (2007) and Johnny Gaddaar (2007). His film Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011) was box-office hit in 2011.
- Dharmendra became the first Indian star to be voted among the most handsome men in the world in mid '70s.
- Was originally signed for Zabardast in 1979 but the film was shelved. It had Dilip Kumar Dharmendra Rishi Kapoor and Kajal Kiran. Nasir Hussein launched in again in 1983.
- Son-in-law is Kiran Chaudhri, a world famous dentist married to Ajeeta. They are settled in Califonia.
- Had a elder brother named Santosh who passed away at the age of 2.
- His father passed away 15 January 1995.
- He has four children with his first wife Prakash Kaur (Born August 1,1936). Prakash's father's name was Mithin Singh Sohi. Two sons, the Bollywood stars Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol and two daughters Ajeeta and Vijayta Deol Gill.
- Dharmendra is one of the most commercially successful stars of Hindi cinema. According to a survey called Big Box Office Bucks conducted by The Economic Times in 2006, Dharmendra was the 4th highest grossing star of all time. The list was topped by Amitabh Bachchan.
- He acquired the tag of He-Man in 1987 at the age of 52, when he had eleven lead roles. Seven were successful action films, namely the multi-star films Watan Ke Rakhwale, Insaniyat Ke Dushman, Loha, Dadagiri, Aag Hi Aag, Mard Ki Zabaan, and the solo hero film Hukumat.
- His film Hukumat was among the top grossers at the box office in 1987.
- Brother acted and produced films under the screen name Kanwar Ajit Singh .
- He was successful A grade hero until 1993, and after 1994 most of his films were called B-grade action movies, as they had lower production values and were mostly directed by Kanti Shah, Surinder Kapoor and Dilip Gulati, and the cast often included actors like Hemant Birje, Mohan Joshi, Raza Murad, Shakti Kapoor, Jay Mehta, Sadashiv Amrapurkar and Kiran Kumar.
- Dharmendra's image took a beating with B-grade films in mid '90s but he bounced back with films like Life in A Metro, Apne, and Johnny Gaddaar in late 2000s.
- His most successful and longest collaboration was with director Arjun Hingorani from 1960-1991. Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere was Dharmendra's film debut as an actor and Arjun's first directorial venture with Dharmendra as the lead hero. They together worked in four hits: Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Kahani Kismat Ki, Khel Khilari Ka, and Katilon Ke Kaatil, where Arjun was the producer and the director. Their last film together, 1991's Kaun Kare Kurbanie, flopped badly. Arjun went on to produce two films that he produced but didn't direct, starring Dharmendra as the hero - Sultanat and Karishma Kudrat Ka - both of which flopped.
- His other successful association was with director Pramod Chakravarthy with whom all his 4 ventures were box-office success each belonging to different genre - drama in Naya Zamana, romance in Dream Girl, action in Azaad and Jugnu.
- Dharmendra's most notable acting performance were in Anupama, Satyakam, Chupke Chupke with Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Jeevan Mrityu with Satyen Bose, Do Chor with Padmanabh, Loafer with A.Bhimshingh, Samadhi with Prakash Mehra, Sholay, where he appeared as the inimitable Veeru, Dillagi directed by Basu Chatterjee, Atma Ram's Shikar and Resham Ki Dori, Umesh Mehra's Alibaba Aur 40 Chor, Raghunath Jhalani 's Aaye Din Bahar Ke and Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke , Anil Sharma's Hukumat , all his 4 films with Pramod Chakravarthy and his 7 films with Arjun Hingorani.
- In his youth, actor Dharmendra was such a big fan of actress Suraiya that he walked miles to watch her film Dillagi, over 40 times.
- Cousin of Punjabi actor Veerendra (Varinder). He was married to director Pammi Varinder who directed Dulla Bhatti in 1998. Varinder was assassinated in 1988. He left behind two sons. Actor, producer Randeep Arya who is married to Deepti Bhatnagar and actor, assistant director Ramandep Arya who is married to actress Chandana Sharma. Varinder also has a daughter named Monica.
- Related to actor Rammi Dhillon (of Salaakhen and Prem Aggan). Rammi is married to Veerta (daughter of Ajit Singh Deol). They are now based in Temecula, California, USA. He is a world famous Realtor at Realty One Group South West in California. He was raised in California his whole life. After getting married in India he tried his hand in films.
- His Suryakant (1995) was completed but unreleased. It co-stars Madhoo, Sonu Walia, Arjun, Kiran Kumar, Mohan Joshi and Jagdeep, with music by Mahesh Kishor, produced by Waris Pictures and directed by Inayat H. Sheikh.
- His Mukka was completed but unreleased. It co-stars Armaan Kohli, Avinash Wadhawan, Ravi Kissen and Tinnu Anand, with music by Nikhil-Vinay, produced by Rohitasha Movies and directed by Raj N. Sippy.
- Starred in the shelved Desh (1996), co-starring Aditya Pancholi, Puru Rajkumar, Mamta Kulkarni, Karina Grover, Mohan Joshi, Mukesh Rishi, Paresh Rawal and Mohnish Behl.
- Eldest daughter's name is Vijayta Kishan Deol Gill, nicknamed Lally. She was born on 21 June 1962. Vijayta eventually moved to Delhi. Vijayta is married to Vivek Gill (son of Avtar Singh Gill). They married in December 1988. VIjayta's father-in-law Avtar was born in 1932. Vijayta's husband Vivek Gill was born on 2 September 1961. Vijayta Deol Gill was director of the business Rajkamal Holdings and Trading Pvt. Ltd. in 1988, a position co-held by her husband Vivek Gill. Vivek was also director of Homeland Hospitality Private Ltd. in 1986. Vijayta and Vivek have two children. One is a daughter named Prerna Gill, who is now a famous author. Vijayta Deol Gill also has a young teenage son. Prerna Gill married world famous advocate Pulkit Deora in April 2017. Pulkit practices in New Delhi.
- Uncle to actor-producer Randeep Arya (Veerendra's son).
- Uncle to actor-model Ramandeep Arya (Dharti -2011).
- Cousin Veerendra's son, actor Randeep Arya, is the partner of Deepti Bhatnagar.
- His brother Kanwar Ajit Singh (Ajit Singh Deol) and cousin actor Veerendra married two sisters on the same day. Ajit to Usha and Veerendra to Pammi. Pammi and Usha are sisters.
- Brother-in-law of actress Madhoo (Hema Malini's cousin).
- Starred in the shelved film Gardish (Earlier titled Bharosa) Starring Dharmendra, Rekha, Rati Agnihothri, Zarina Wahab, Asrani, Lyrics by Gulzar, Music by Rahul Dev Burman, Produced by Channi Baweja, I.S.Shivdasani, Directed by Meraj. The film was earlier to be made with Rajesh Khanna and Zahira. It was shelved due to problems.
- His secretary Iqbal Singh produced Amitabh Bachchan's hit movie Kaalia.
- Went for a world tour concert with Hema Malini and Kishore Kumar in 1981. They visited cities in Canada, the United States and England.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content