Sharmila Tagore says ‘ordinary man’ Dharmendra made her feel ‘safer’ on set: ‘Women didn’t have protection then’

Revisiting the time she met Dharmendra for the first time on the sets of their film Anupama, Sharmila shared, “He was a caring person; an ordinary man like that. He never acted like a star. That smile, that frankness… he would speak from the heart. He never changed. He wasn’t very talkative. He wasn’t like other actors. He was so cooperative. We did so many good films together. I’m happy we had that time.”

ALSO READ | Sunny Deol looked ‘hurt’ whenever Dharmendra poured himself alcohol, made him feel ‘guilty’ for drinking: ‘He learnt from my mistakes’

She further added, “He looked after his family, friends he was a very generous man. It’s difficult to find a man like him, someone who helped so many people. Today people think only about themselves. When we went to the US, people appreciated him there as well. He will always be remembered.”

Sharmila Tagore also revealed that the two were in touch with over the phone in recent years, but couldn’t meet him. There was hope that he might feel better, despite his deteriorating health. “He was critical, but we were expecting him to get better. We wanted him to celebrate his birthday. He would have been 90 and I would be 81 next month.”

Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore shared screen space in many popular films – ‘Satyakam’, ‘Anupama’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, and ‘Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka’. Meanwhile, the actor’s cremation will take place today, in Mumbai.

From the homepage

In first speech after Karur tragedy, Vijay lays out his ideology, equates DMK with ‘syndicate of dacoits’

Rethink on Chandigarh Bill after Punjab protests, Govt says final decision not taken

With battle lines clear for 2026, Nitish’s 10th return as CM a reckoning for INDIA amid drift