Indian film industry lost another legend as veteran actor Dharmendra passed after a prolonged illness on November 24 at his Juhu home in Mumbai.
The actor, who was also known as the original He-Man of Bollywood, was discharged from Breach Candy hospital a few days ago and was undergoing treatment at his home.
In his 65-year-long career, Dharmendra had many hits and superhits to his credit including Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Dreamgirl and many more. But not many know that very few stars have enjoyed the kind of mass hysteria, fan devotion, and box-office consistency that Dharmendra commanded through the 1970s and 80s.
And there is one particular year that stands out like a golden chapter in Bollywood folklore - It was the year 1987 when the 'He-Man' of Hindi cinema delivered eight back to back HIT films.
It is a feat which is nearly unimaginable in today’s times of limited releases and 'curated' stardom.
This was the peak of Dharmendra’s superstardom and a period when his name alone was enough to guarantee crowds, and packed single screens across the country.
The biggest blockbuster of the year 1987 was 'Hukumat', which emerged as the highest grosser that year and it outperformed every big release. It also cemented Dharmendra’s hold over the action-drama space.
Rugged, intense, and dripping with swagger, Hukumat became a cultural phenomenon and reaffirmed why Dharam paaji was called the original action superstar.
It was followed by seven other actioners by Dharmendra in the same year, proving his unparalleled dominance.
'Loha' was another actioner that showcased his raw physicality and unbeatable screen presence. Next came 'Watan Ke Rakhwale' which had the patriotic fervour and it resonated with the small town movie goers.
The winning streak at the box office continued with 'Aag Hi Aag', 'Insaniyat Ke Dushman', and 'Insaaf Ki Pukar', each film tapping into the exact pulse of the audience: action, emotion, and the unshakeable heroism Dharmendra embodied so naturally.
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These films weren’t just any hits rather they were crowd-pullers that kept single-screen theatres running housefull shows for weeks.
Completing this unprecedented run were 'Dadagiri' and 'Jaan Hatheli Pe', reaffirming Dharmendra’s undisputed popularity at a time when the industry was filling with rising stars and shifting trends.
His ability to carry multiple films on his shoulders simultaneously remains unmatched even today.
It was very rare of any star of that era or even now to match his winning streak.
With a career spanning over six decades, Dharmendra remains one of Indian cinema’s most beloved superstars.
Dharmendra has worked in over 250 films which differed from action, romance, comedy, and drama.
He was seen in many classic films like Phool Aur Patthar, Sholay, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, and Chupke Chupke to name a few from the long list.
Even today, Dharmendra stands tall as a symbol of charisma, discipline, and stardom.
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