Adieu, Dharmendra: The swashbuckling hero with matinee star charms

The legendary Dharmendra is no more. Despite his extensive and varied work in the decades that followed, Bollywood's 'Dharam ji' will always be known best for the exhilarating '70s, an era which saw some of the most crucial films being made; the era represented a period of immense transformation and innovation, and undoubtedly laid the foundation for modern commercial Indian cinema.

Remembering Dharmendra, the perfect celluloid superstar

Dharmendra's ruggedness wasn't something Bollywood wanted in a hero; the icon himself spoke about it many times. Many producers initially rejected him. He was called for a screen test for Love in Shimla, only for the makers to remark, ‘We need a hero, not a hockey player.’”