Did you know Dharmendra once broke into Dilip Kumar’s house and watched him sleep? |

As a college student in Punjab, Dharmendra was so passionate about Dilip Kumar that he believed they were brothers, despite having no connection. On his first visit to Bombay, he went to Dilip’s house and accidentally reached his bedroom. Startled by the star’s reaction, he quickly ran out.
In Dilip Kumar’s autobiography, Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow, Dharmendra shared a memory from 1952 when he was studying in Ludhiana. During a short visit to Mumbai, he was determined to meet Dilip Kumar, believing they were like brothers. The next day, he went to the actor’s Bandra bungalow, where he found the gate unguarded and walked right in.

Dharmendra recounted how he wandered through the house, moving from one door to another, until he reached a bedroom. Since no one stopped him at the gate or the entrance, he walked in and climbed a wooden staircase. At the doorway, he saw a fair, slim, and handsome man sleeping on the couch. As the man sensed someone watching him, he woke up startled—it was Dilip Kumar.

Dharmendra recalled how Dilip Kumar sat up, shocked to see a stranger standing at his bedroom door, staring in admiration. Realizing what was happening, Dilip called for a servant, which scared Dharmendra. He immediately ran down the stairs and out of the house, looking back to check if anyone was following him. After reaching a safe spot, he reflected on his actions and questioned himself, realizing how reckless it was to invade a star’s privacy, even if no one had stopped him at the gate.
Six years later, after winning a talent competition, Dharmendra had the opportunity to meet industry celebrities. He spotted Dilip Kumar’s sister and quickly ran after her, requesting a meeting with the star. He told her that he truly believed Dilip Kumar was his brother.