Dharmendra is an award-winning Indian Bollywood film star who has appeared in more than 200 Hindi films. Dharmendra is one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema. He has starred in a large number of hit films in Bollywood and is considered a living legend. His starring roles in action films earned him nicknames such as "Action King" and "He-Man". Dharmendra has given blockbusters consistently from 1962 till 1995 as lead hero alone. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema. One of his most notable roles was in "Sholay" (1975).

Early Life of Dharmendra
Dharmendra"s actual name is Dharam Singh Deol, was born on 8th December 1935 in the Kapurthala District of Punjab. Belongs from a Jat Sikh family to Kewal Kishan Singh Deol and Satwant Kaur, his ancestral village is Dangon. His early life in village Sahnewal and studied at Government Senior Secondary School at Lalton Kalan educated Dharmendra. He did his intermediate from Ramgarhia College, Phagwara in 1952.

Film Career of Dharmendra
Dharmendra was first noticed in a Filmfare spot-the-talent contest and came to Mumbai to become an actor. Dharmendra was signed by Arjun Hingorani for "Dil Bhi Tera, Hum Bhi Tere" in the year 1960. However strong, romantic lead roles in women-oriented films like "Anpadh" (1962) with Mala Sinha, "Bandini" (1963) and "Soorat Aur Seerat" (1963) both with Nutan brought Dharmendra to the forefront. An intimacy with Meena Kumari saw the two of them starring together in a series of films. His first major hit film was "Phool Aur Paththar" and thus in the year of 1966 Dharmendra became a star. He acted in many other hits as a soft romantic hero like "Pooja Ke Phool", "Shaadi", "Ayee Milan Ki Bela", "Main Bhi Ladki Hoon", "Poornima" and many more. In the 1960s he was regarded as one of the 5 best-looking men in the world. In the late 60s Dharmendra ventured into action films such as "Aankhein", "Mera Gaon Mera Desh", "Jugnu", "Kahani Kismet Ki", "Yaadon ki Baraat" and "Sholay", one of the biggest commercial successes of Hindi cinema.

Dharmendra next proved his versatility in Hrishikesh Mukherjee`s comedy flick "Chupke Chupke". Forming a hugely successful pairing with Hema Malini, doing a string of hit films together such as "Naya Zamana", "Raja Jani", "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Jugnu", "Dost", "Sharafat", "Tum Haseen Main Jawaan", "Dost", "Charas", "Maa", "Chacha Bhatija", "Azaad", "Teesri Aankh", "Sholay" and "The Burning Train". The ace actor has also worked with contemporary heroines such as with Sridevi in "Naaka Bandi", Jaya Prada in "Elaan-E-Jung", Dimple Kapadia in "Shehzaade", Amrita Singh in "Sachai Ki Taaqat" and many others. Having worked with almost all notable directors, the actor has also to his credit of starring in Punjabi movies like "Do Sher", "Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam", "Teri Meri Ik Jindri", "Putt Jattan De" and "Qurbani Jatt Di".

Dharmendra has launched both of his sons in films, Sunny Deol in "Betaab" in the year 1983 and Bobby Deol in "Barsaat" in the year 1995. He also launched his brother"s son, Abhay Deol in "Socha Na Tha" in 2005. In 2007 the actor reappeared in the movies "Apne" along with his two sons, "Life In A Metro" and "Jonny Gaddaar" and recently in "Yamala Pagla Deewana".

Dharmendra had 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.

Awards Received by Dharmendra
Dharmendra won his first "Filmfare Award for Best Film/Producer" for "Ghayal" in 1991 and "Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award" for his contribution to Indian Cinema in 1997.In 2007 he got "IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award". He is a recipient of the prestigious "Living Legend Award" by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Indian entertainment industry as well. In 2003, he has won "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Sansui Viewers" Choice Movie Awards. In 2004, he was honoured for "Best Contribution to Indian Cinema". In 2005, he won Zee Cine Award for "Lifetime Achievement", whereas in 2007, he won "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF). Among his other awards, the Punjabi newspaper "Quami Ekta" honoured him for his contributions to the Indian cinema. In 2008, he was awarded "Actor Par Excellence" at the Max Stardust Awards. In 2009, he received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Nashik International Film Festival (NIFF). In 2010, he was honoured as the "Big Star Entertainer" for his 50 years of excellence at the Big Star Entertainment Awards. He also received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards and the "Salaam Maharashtra Award" for completion of 50 years in the film industry.

Filmography of Dharmendra as Actor

•"Alibaba Aur 40 Chor" (1980)
•"Insaaf Ka Tarazu" (1980)
•"Putt Jattan De" (1981)
•"Professor Pyarelal" (1981)
•"Rajput" (1982)
•"Katilon Ke Kaatil" (1981)
•"Aas Paas" (1981)
•"Naseeb" (1981)
•"Teesri Aankh" (1982)
•"Samraat" (1982)
•"Main Intequam Loonga" (1982)
•"Ghazab" (1982)
•"Do Dishayen" (1982)
•"Baghawat" (1982)
•"Badle Ki Aag" (1982)
•"Krodhi" (1981)
•"Meharbaani" (1982)
•"Ambri" (1983)
•"Razia Sultan" (1983)
•"Naukar Biwi Ka" (1983)
•"Jaani Dost" (1983)
•"Qayamat" (1983)
•"Sunny" (1984)
•"Ranjhan Mera Yaar" (1984)
•"Raaj Tilak" (1984)
•"Jagir" (1984)
•"The Gold Medal" (1984)
•"Dharam Aur Kanoon" (1984)
•"Baazi" (1984)
•"Insaaf Kaun Karega" (1984)
•"Jhootha Sach" (1984)
•"Ghulami" (1985)
•"Sitamgar" (1985)
•"Saveray Wali Gaadi" (1986)
•"Mohabbat Ki Kasam" (1986)
•"Main Balwan" (1986)
•"Watan Ke Rakhwale" (1987)
•"Mera Karam Mera Dharam" (1987)
•"Mard Ki Zabaan" (1987)
•"Insaaf Ki Pukar" (1987)
•"Dadagiri" (1987)
•"Aag Hi Aag" (1987)
•"Insaniyat Ke Dushman" (1987)
•"Loha" (1987)
•"Hukumat" (1987)
•"Jaan Hatheli Pe" (1987)
•"Zalzala" (1988)
•"Soorma Bhopali" (1988)
•"Sone Pe Suhaaga" (1988)
•"Saazish" (1988)
•"Khatron Ke Khiladi" (1988)
•"Mardon Wali Baat" (1988)
•"Mahaveera" (1988)
•"Paap Ko Jalaa Kar Raakh Kar Doonga" (1988)
•"Ganga Tere Desh Mein" (1988)
•"Sachai Ki Taqat" (1989)
•"Nafrat Ki Aandhi" (1989)
•"Hathyar" (1989)
•"Kasam Suhaag Ki" (1989)
•"Ilaaka" (1989)
•"Batwara" (1989)
•"Elaan-E-Jung" (1989)
•"Sikka" (1989)
•"Shehzaade" (1989)
•"Veeru Dada" (1990)
•"Vardi" (1990)
•"Qurbani Jatt Di" (1990)
•"Pyaar Ka Karz" (1990)

Later Films by Dharmendra

•"Metro"
•"Apne"
•"Jatt Pardesi"
•"Om Shanti Om"
•"Yamla Pagla Deewana"
•"Tell Me O Kkhuda"
•"Yamla Pagla Deewana 2"
•"Singh Saab The Great"
•"Johnny Gaddaar"

Filmography of Dharmendra as a Producer

•"Ghayal"
•"Barsaat"
•"Indian"
•"23 March 1931: Shaheed"
•"Socha Na Tha"
•"Apne"
•"Yamla Pagla Deewana 2"

Personal Life of Dharmendra
Dharmendra was married at the age of 19 to Prakash Kaur in 1594 and took up a job with an American Drilling Company boring tube wells. The couple has two sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, both successful actors, and two daughters, Vijeeta Deol and Ajeeta Deol. Later the actor married Bollywood actress Hema Malini in 1980 and they have two daughters Esha Deol, who is an actress and Ahana Deol, who is a successful dancer.