Dharmendra’s top 5 iconic performances

With a career spanning more than six decades, Dharmendra has delivered an astonishing range of performances — action hero, romantic lead, comedian, dramatic powerhouse, and everything in between. While he is often celebrated for his good looks and star charisma, his filmography reveals an actor capable of remarkable depth and versatility. We revisit Dharmendra’s top five performances.

Ajit in Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973)
In Nasir Hussain’s cult classic, Dharmendra played Ajit, the eldest of three brothers separated in childhood and reunited through a haunting melody. This performance is one of his most underrated, an elegant mix of emotional vulnerability and magnetic screen presence. As Ajit, he combined suave confidence with deep-rooted pain, creating a hero who wasn’t just fighting villains but also battling loneliness. His effortless charm in scenes with Zeenat Aman and his intensity in confrontations showcased the fine balance that defined his 1970s persona.

Dr Parimal Tripathi in Chupke Chupke (1975)
Dharmendra’s comic timing in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Chupke Chupke remains one of Bollywood’s greatest gifts. As the mischievous professor Parimal Tripathi, he delivered a masterclass in clean, intellectual comedy. His deadpan expressions, subtle vocal shifts, and ability to play with language made his performance unforgettable. Few actors known for rugged masculinity could excel in such a light, witty role, but Dharmendra not only aced it, he elevated it.

Veeru in Sholay (1975)
Veeru is arguably the most iconic role of Dharmendra’s career, and for good reason. In Sholay, he was the perfect counterbalance to Amitabh Bachchan’s stoic Jai — rowdy yet soft-hearted, funny yet intense, flirtatious yet deeply loyal. His water tank monologue, comedic courtship of Basanti, and the emotional climax scenes remain etched into pop culture history. What makes Veeru special is the humanity Dharmendra infused into him: he was a hero audiences could laugh with, cry with, and root for. It is one of Hindi cinema’s defining performances.

Shaka in Phool Aur Patthar (1966)
Dharmendra’s breakout role in Phool Aur Patthar is among the finest examples of emotional duality in Hindi cinema. As Shaka, the rugged criminal who discovers compassion and love, he delivered a layered, almost internalised performance far ahead of its time. It established him as a serious performer capable of commanding silence, stillness, and storm in equal measure.

Satyapriya in Satyakam (1969)
Topping this list is Dharmendra’s haunting portrayal of Satyapriya Acharya in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s masterpiece Satyakam. Often cited by critics as his greatest performance, Dharmendra embodied moral integrity with heartbreaking sincerity. He played a man fighting to remain honest in a world drowning in compromise, and his quiet torment is palpable in every frame. The film’s emotionally devastating final scene delivered with a level of restraint and truth rarely seen in mainstream cinema marks this as the defining performance of his career.