Dharmendra

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**Dharmendra**
Image:Dharmendra.jpg
Born	December 8, 1935 (age 71) Sahnewal, Punjab
Residence	Mumbai
Office	MP
Constituency	Bikaner
Political party	BJP
Religion	Sikh
Children	2 sons and 2 daughters
As of September 14, 2006 Source: [1]

Dharmendra (or Dharam Singh Deol) (Punjabi:ਧਰਿਮਨਦਰ (ਧਰਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇਓਲ), Hindi: धर्मॆन्द्र (धर्म सिंह देयोल)), born 8 December 1935 in Sahnewal, Punjab) is a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Bikaner constituency of Rajasthan and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) political party.

He is an Indian actor who has appeared in many successful Hindi films since the early sixties.

He was first noticed in a Filmfare spot-the-talent contest and came to Bombay to become an actor. He was signed by Arjun Hingorani for the film Dil Bhi Tera, Hum Bhi Tere (1960).

At the start of his career he was usually cast as a romantic hero against actresses such as Mala Sinha and Meena Kumari. His first major hit film was Phool aur Paththar. As action movies became more popular, he took on action hero roles. Perhaps his greatest such role was his role in the 1975 Sholay, where he was teamed with Amitabh Bachchan.

Dharmendra has continued making films even though his popularity has dwindled. He has also experimented with film production; he launched both of his sons in films: Sunny Deol in Betaab (1983) and Bobby Deol in Barsaat (1995).

In 1997, Dharmendra won a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian Cinema over many years. While receiving the award from Dilip Kumar (to whom he honored by calling him the emperor of acting) and his wife, Dharmendra grew emotional and remarked that he never received any Filmfare award in the "Best Actor" category despite having worked in so many successful films. He was glad that his contribution had finally been recognized.

1 Personal life
2 Filmography
3 Notes
4 External links

[edit] Personal life

Dharmendra married twice. His first marriage was to Prakash Kaur at the age of 19.^[1] He didn't divorce his first wife when he married his second wife, actress Hema Malini. They are said to have fallen in love on the sets of Sholay (1975). although they have made many films together before and after Sholay. His two sons by his first wife, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, are also successful actors. He has two daughters, starlet Esha Deol and Ahana Deol, by Hema Malini. His nephew Abhay Deol is also an actor.

Dharmendra has gone on record saying he did not believe the Mumbai film industry was a place suitable for girls. Whereas Dharmendra was unperturbed by his sons Sunny and Bobby joining the industry, he was vocal about his displeasure regarding his daughter Esha's choice of profession. ^[1]

He has recently become active in politics with his wife Hema Malini. He won a position as a Member of Parliament in the 2004 general elections, from Bikaner in Rajasthan, on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. During his election campaign, he made an ironical remark that he should be elected Dictator Perpetuus to teach "basic etiquette that democracy requires" for which he was severely criticized.[2] [3]

His electoral stint may have benefited Dharmendra personally, however, people of Bikaner have not seen him in the constituency ever since the election date. It's a known fact that he talks to his secretary over phone and that's all about it while the old city is dying because of congested roads.