Mala Sinha reveals how Dharamji has great songs that people will always remember him by: ‘Aaj kal ke stars ka koi gaane se recall value nahi hai’ |
In an ETimes exclusive interview, the evergreen Mala Sinha opened up about her cherished memories with the late superstar Dharmendra, who would have celebrated his 90th birthday if the charming star was alive today. Calling Dharmendra one of her all-time favorite co-stars. The ace actress, who shared some of her earliest and most iconic films with him, remembered not just the superstar but the secure, gracious colleague he always was.
Mala Sinha says Dharmendra never shied from doing heroine oriented films
“We did some of our early work together, like Mohan Kumar’s ‘Anpadh,’ where I had an author-backed role,” Mala Sinha recalled. “I will say one thing about Dharmendra: he never shied away from doing heroine-oriented films, whether it was ‘Bandini’ with Nutan, ‘Mamta’ with Suchitra Sen, or ‘Anpadh’ with me. He was a confident and secure actor. Unko kissi se koi pareshani nahi hoti. We heroines felt very comfortable working with him. Shooting with him was always great fun,” she added.
Dharmendra’s spy character from ‘Ankhen’ should have been a franchise
Mala Sinha, who went on to do several more films with the legendary actor, says she later had a chance to express her gratitude through another major collaboration. “Years after ‘Anpadh,’ we worked together again in Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Aankhen.’ It was a superhit. Dharamji played the central character of a spy. He made such a dashing spy! Woh apne James Bond the. That character should have been developed into a franchise. But that was not the era of franchises,” she relayed.
Did you know Dharamji replaced Guru Dutt saab as the lead in ‘Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi’
Reflecting on their filmography together, she fondly recalled another special project. “‘Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi’ was very special too. Did you know Dharamji replaced Guru Dutt Saab as the lead after he passed away? Guru Dutt’s brother Atma Ram directed the film. I felt Dharamji brought everything to that journalist’s character, caught between two sisters, that Guru Dutt Saab would have brought.”The veteran actress continued reminiscing about their collaborations: “Then there were ‘Pooja Ke Phool,’ ‘Neela Akash,’ and ‘Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai.’ All three had fabulous songs composed by the great Madan Mohan. Even ‘Anpadh’ had unforgettable melodies like ‘Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha.’ We are blessed to have so many timeless songs that keep us alive in people’s memories.”With a gentle sigh, she added, “Dharamji has great songs that people will always remember him by. Aaj kal ke stars ka koi gaane se recall value nahi hai.”In her heartfelt recollections, Mala Sinha not only revisits the films but also the warmth, dignity, and effortless charm that defined Dharmendra, qualities that made him one of Indian cinema’s most loved icons, on and off screen.Dharmendra passed away this year on November 24, after battling with age related illnesses for days. She breathed his last at home in the presence of his family and close ones.
