Dharmendra lived in a garage during struggle in Mumbai, earned Rs 200 at a drilling firm: ‘I used to do overtime’

Dharmendra went through many struggles when he first moved to Mumbai to try his luck as an actor.

Dharmendra passed away at 89 in Mumbai. (Photo: Express Archives)

Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away at the age of 89 in Mumbai on Monday. The late actor, who had been a part of the movies for almost seven decades, came to Mumbai after winning a contest organised by a film magazine, but that did not guarantee him a lead role in the movies. In fact, in his early years in Mumbai, Dharmendra had to work at a few odd jobs so he could survive in the city. In an earlier appearance during a reality show, Dharmendra recalled those early days in the city, and shared that since he didn’t have a house, he would live in a garage.

Dharmendra moved to Mumbai after winning a talent contest in 1958, but the film that was planned for the big break of the winner, never really materialised. Hence, he found himself back at square one. At this time, Dharmendra did not have a proper house in the city, so he lived in a garage and worked at a drilling firm that paid him Rs 200.

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“In my earlier days, I used to live in a garage because I didn’t have a proper home in Mumbai. To survive in Mumbai, I worked in a drilling firm where I was paid Rs 200, and to earn some extra money, I used to do overtime,” he shared in an earlier episode of Indian Idol.

His luck changed shortly as Dharmendra finally got a chance to face the camera in the 1960 film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. In the next few years, he starred in films like Bandini, Haqeeqat, and these films slowly established him as the next star of Hindi cinema. Dharmendra never looked back and soon bought a sprawling property in the city, and eventually moved his family from Punjab to Mumbai to live with him. Dharmendra had moved to Mumbai alone but after he became a successful actor, his wife Prakash Kaur and his parents moved here.

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Dharmendra had been ill for the past few weeks. He first faced some health challenges in October, and it seemed like his health was deteriorating in November but the actor got better, and his family decided to take him home. While fans and well wishers prayed for his recovery, Dharmendra breathed his last on Monday, November 24.

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