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‘A wonderful handsome actor’ who brought ‘enduring charms to cinema’: How Pune remembers Dharmendra

Pune remembers “a wonderful actor and very handsome”

3 min readPuneNov 25, 2025 01:07 PM IST

The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) mourned the passing of a legend who brought his “enduring charms” into cinema and won the “immeasurable love of the audience”.

Once when eminent director Jabbar Patel met Dharmendra, all that the actor wanted to talk about was art films, the kind of cerebral cinema that filmmakers, such as Patel, were making. “Why not ask us to do some roles? I can be good for your kind of cinema, don’t worry about money,” said Dharmendra, one of the biggest stars of mainstream Bollywood.

“The point is he was absolutely craving for good roles,” said Patel on Monday, as news filtered in that Dharmendra passed away in Mumbai. Patel called him “a wonderful actor and very handsome; the kind of handsomeness that is rare in Indian cinema”.

Across the city, cine lovers shared memories of their best-loved role of the superstar and what Dharmendra had symbolised. The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) mourned the passing of a legend who brought his “enduring charms” into cinema and won the “immeasurable love of the audience”. “His remarkable legacy will continue to inspire generations coming ahead,” said FTII in an official statement.

Patel highlighted the mix of masculinity and pleasantness that Dharmendra brought to the screen. He was a different sort of actor right from the time he caught everybody’s attention with Bimal Roy’s Bandini. “He used the technique of underacting or natural acting very effectively. We must also remember that very few Indian actors have such a sense of humour,” says Patel, pointing out that, though Dharmendra’s main languages were Punjabi and Urdu, he effectively played a professor of Sanskrit in Dillagi.

The Fifth Pune International Film festival, in 2007, had honoured Dharmendra and Asha Parekh with Lifetime Achievement Awards. According to Kashyapsingh Chudasama, a close friend of Dharmendra and Pune Festival trustee, “I have known Dharmendra ji since 1984. Hema Malini would always come for the Pune Festival, so I got to know Dharmendra ji quite well. He was very rooted. He had a farmhouse in Lonavala that he was fond of. I have met him there several times. He used to talk about his village and his relatives. He was very attached to his village,” says Chudasama.

Praveen Walimbe, who was the PRO of the Pune International Film Festival, said, “I noticed how he had no airs. He was accommodating, even posing for photographs with everyone.”

Chudasama also recalls how Dharmendra would connect easily with people in Bikaner, where he stood for elections in 2004 and won. “He never differentiated between the common person and celebrities. He couldn’t see anybody suffering,” says Chudasama.

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Subhas Sana, a family friend, shed light on another facet of Dharmendra’s personality – his enjoyment of good food. “Every Diwali, we used to gift him faral and he used to love the chakli, sev and laddu. Last year, I couldn’t meet him in Mumbai so he called me to Khandala. And we could meet. He was a very down-to-earth man,” says Sanas.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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