When Dharmendra used to do scenes in Punjabi films for free, reveals director Anil Sharma

When Dharmendra used to work for free in Punjabi films

Following Dharmendra's death at the age of 89, the film industry has been united in both deep gratitude and grief. For many, he was more than just a legendary celebrity whose films shaped entire generations; rather, he was a unique person whose generosity spread subtly and touched many lives without ever aiming for attention.

A long-time friend of the Deol family, director Anil Sharma recently shared memories about the man behind the fame, demonstrating how much Dharmendra loved those around him.

In an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Anil remembered that despite his own hectic schedule, Dharmendra was always willing to lend a hand.

Long after his main shoots wrapped for the day, he willingly gave his time to struggling Punjabi filmmakers who depended on his presence to keep their projects afloat.

As Anil Sharma shared, “Dharam ji has done a film with every single person, and he has done all types of films. He has helped so many people. People used to ask him to do scenes for their Punjabi films after 9 pm, once he was done with his schedule."

What touched Anil Sharma even more was the fact that Dharmendra never asked for payment. He knew these filmmakers were fighting to make ends meet, and he quietly chose to support them. Sharma remembered their pleas of desperation and hope, saying, “They used to say, ‘Paaji, mera ghar chal jayega, meri picture bik jayegi’ (My movie will be able to sell, and I’ll be able to run my household). Dharam ji used to do all those films for free, and he used to tell them to come wherever he was shooting and work with them for a couple of hours.”

Dharmendra would simply tell them to come wherever he was shooting, carving out time to help—never making a fuss, never expecting anything in return.

When speaking about Dharmendra’s final days, Sharma’s voice carried both warmth and sorrow. “I went to his home. He had recovered. He would open his eyes and even move his hands. He was recovering, and doctors were saying that Dharamji bahut strong aadmi hain (Doctors said he is a very strong man),” he recalled, describing how hope briefly flickered among the family and friends who gathered around him.

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Even in hospital, doctors thought he would pull through, but as Sharma gently noted, age eventually has its say, no matter how strong the spirit.

On 27 November, the family held a prayer meet they lovingly called a “Celebration Of Life”. A beautiful photo of a young Dharmendra greeted guests, and stars from across the decades—Rekha, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan and many more—came together to honour him.