Copyright news18
For decades, Dharmendra’s name has been synonymous with strength, courage, and old-school Bollywood heroism. Now, in a nostalgic recollection, actor-director Satyajeet Puri has shared unseen anecdotes from the superstar’s life — from facing down the underworld to physically stopping a falling horse — proving why the “He-Man of Bollywood” was a legend both on and off-screen. “The Underworld Never Dared to Mess With Dharmendra” Speaking on Friday Talkies, Satyajeet revealed how Dharmendra’s confidence extended far beyond the silver screen. “At that time, the underworld was very strong,” he recalled. “If they called an actor, people would get scared. But Dharamji and his family were never afraid.” Dharmendra reportedly once told them, “If you come, the whole Sahnewal will come from Punjab. You have 10 men, I have an army. Say one word, and truckloads will come to fight. Don’t mess with me.” According to Satyajeet, after that warning, “they never messed with Dharmendra again.” The Knife Attack Dharmendra Foiled Bare-Handed In another jaw-dropping story, Satyajeet recalled a day when a fan attacked Dharmendra with a knife. “Within a minute, he tackled the man himself,” he said. “These days actors walk with six bodyguards, but back then, Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna would walk freely.” The actor’s composure and fearlessness, even in danger, left everyone stunned. When Dharmendra’s Strength Saved a Horse One of the most incredible incidents took place on the set of Ghulami, where Dharmendra insisted on doing a dangerous horse-riding stunt himself. “He told the team to clean the area near the horse,” Satyajeet recounted. “But the horse peed there, and no one noticed. As he climbed the marble stairs, the horse slipped — and Dharamji, who rides without stirrups, used his legs to steady it.” Though he hit the ground hard, Dharmendra escaped unhurt and, incredibly, was more concerned for the horse’s well-being. “He later gave ₹200 to the horse’s owner, worried that the animal might be injured,” Satyajeet said. “No One More Daring Than Dharmendra, Sunny, or Bobby Deol” Reflecting on Dharmendra’s fearlessness, Satyajeet said, “Any other actor would have suffered multiple fractures, but Dharamji didn’t get a scratch. His legs were so strong, he saved both himself and the horse.” From confronting gangsters to performing his own life-threatening stunts, Dharmendra’s stories aren’t just movie moments — they’re living proof of why he earned the title of Bollywood’s ultimate He-Man.
