Even today, he's one of the most stylish men around. Put him in fatigues or suit and no one becomes dapper like Dharmendra. By Team Viva
Dharmendra enacting the legendary actor Dilip Kumar. Dharmendra humming songs of lata Mangeshkar and reciting poetry. Paaji was at his coolest self over the weekend, warming up the atmosphere at The lalit Hotel, where the press conference for the short Indo-Australian film Dream Catcher was held. The film boasts of actors Dharmendra, Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge fame Travis Jeffery and Miss Fiji World 2016 Pooja Priyanka. What is most interesting is that this is the legend’s foray into the short films space in a venture directed by no less a person than Santosh Shivamm.
Dream Catcher is about a boy from Australia (played by Travis Jeffery) who falls in love with an Indian girl (played by Pooja) Priyanka. Dharmendra plays the girl’s father. The film deals with cultural complexities in India and Australia and explores the deeper idea of humanity.
Dharmendra, who was looking dapper in an army print jacket, told us a bit about story. He pointed out how “technology is keeping innocent children apart from their parents.” He said, “Technology was meant to be good but it has dehumanised us. These days, it is being misused. My character is someone who uses technology to bring people together.”
So why did he do short filmIJ That too as an international project. “The film’s idea is beautiful. At first, I was conscious about doing a short film but decided to work because sometimes little words have a larger impact.”
He still hasn’t lost his charm and called himself a next-door Punjabi guy at heart. “I am a regular boy first, then an actor.” What the media didn’t know was that the shooting for the last leg ended at 4 am on Friday and Dharmendra was dead tired. But he was full of beans at the meet-and-greet.
Asked about him being the oldest actors of his league who was still working, he said, “I still feel like a new comer and I learn lessons everyday. I want to keep working. As a child, I was passionate about films and the camera as a means of communicating with people. And now, I want to touch the heart of people. Everyone wants to be loved, liked and admired. And I want to be remembered as the humble man who is still rooted to his village.”
He also said he is averse to the idea of a film based on his life, saying he will never give permission to any filmmaker to make a movie tracing his life’s journey. “I will never let them make that biopic.”
Asked the reason, he said: “Because my life is not worth it. However, I will keep on telling parts of my story through several other ways.”
Dharmendra, 81, also asserted that he doesn’t even intend to write a book about his life.
On the harsh climate of Delhi and Gurugram, where the shooting took place over the last few days, he said, “As an actor, one needs to get into the skin of the character and not get emotional or ticklish about externalities. You just perform. I worked in Haqeeqat in a very cold climate and have done that in many other films.”
He remembered late actor Vinod Khanna calling him his “younger brother, a great actor and a greater human being.” Recalling the good times, he said, “We were the only actors who did our stunts without body doubles.”
Travis Jeffrey, who felt honoured and privileged to be working with the living legend of Indian cinema, said, “I want to be a part of more collaborative works with the Indian film fraternity. And I am looking forward to come to India again.”
The female lead, Pooja Priyanka, thanked the co-stars and crew for their support and called the film their “baby.” She also mentioned how Dharmendra had told her that this film was one of his most difficult performances. “It is a short one instead of a full-length feature because of its budget,” said the producer.
“The film was supposed to be shot in Australia but due to some reasons we couldn’t fly out Dharmendra there. So we started the production in India,” added he.
Photo: Pankaj Kumar