Bollywood legend Dharmendra, affectionately known as the industry’s ‘He-Man’, passed away on Monday, November 24 at the age of 89. With his departure, Indian cinema has lost one of its most charismatic action stars and tender romantic heroes. Several celebrities mourned the demise of the Bollywood superstar. Malayalam director M Padmakumar recalled the moment when Dharmendra watched ‘Joseph’ and congratulated him.
Director M. Padmakumar’s heartfelt memory
Malayalam director M. Padmakumar has shared a deeply emotional recollection of his meeting with Dharmendra in 2022 during discussions for the Hindi remake of his film ‘Joseph’, starring Sunny Deol who reprises Joju George’s character.Padmakumar writes on social media, “The biggest He-Man Indian cinema has ever seen — Dharmendra, the superhero who conquered the hearts of an entire generation with intense romantic scenes and extraordinary action performances — has bid farewell, leaving countless memorable characters behind.”
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)
He added, “My meeting with Dharmendra ji, as the film world lovingly calls him, was deeply emotional for me. In 2022, I visited his residence in Manali to discuss the Hindi remake of ‘Joseph’, along with the remake’s producer Kamalji (Kamal Mukut) and its Hindi lead actor Sunny Deol. Before meeting Sunny, I first saw Dharmendra ji seated on a chair on the lawn of his sprawling farmhouse in Manali. He welcomed me, a director coming from Kerala, with warmth far beyond anything I had expected. Malayalam cinema, Mammootty, Mohanlal… he spoke about them with great fondness.
‘He hugged me and said, ‘Well done, beta… well done.’
M Padmakumar recalled the experience when Dharmendra watched his superhit thriller ‘Joseph’ and praised him. He wrote, “Later, while we were talking to Sunny, Dharmendra ji and the family watched Joseph in their home theatre (it had been dubbed into Hindi especially for them, thanks to Kamalji). After the discussions, we returned to the reception area of the farmhouse, where Dharmendra ji was waiting. The others walked ahead and I was the last to enter the hall. He gestured for the others to sit. When I reached him, he stood up. The great superstar of Indian cinema stood looking at me for a moment. I saw his eyes shine with a warm affection that was clearly visible. Then he hugged me and said, “Well done, beta… well done. The rest of what he said drowned in the emotional overwhelm that filled my heart. I only remember him asking the name of the actor who played Joseph, and I told him about Joju George.”Padmakumar further said that it was one of the greatest recognitions he had ever received as a filmmaker for directing ‘Joseph’.
‘Don’t ask me about heroines… I love all heroines! Equally’
Padmakumar shared a fun moment while asking for any suggestions for the female cast in the Hindi remake of ‘Joseph’. Dharmendra replied by saying, “Don’t ask me about heroines… I love all heroines! Equally!”.‘Joseph’ director wrote, “The laughter that erupted that moment still rings in my ears. The Hindi remake of Joseph has now been completed. We wanted to announce the title on Dharmendra ji’s birthday in early December… but before that, he left us.”“We had to bid him farewell without being able to show him how brilliantly Sunny Deol has absorbed and portrayed that character. But I know — we all know — that from heights beyond our sight, he will bless us… he will watch over us,” M Padmakumar concluded.
