Sharmila Tagore mourns the loss of her ‘Satyakam’ and ‘Chupke Chupke’ co-star, only days before his 90th birthday
A still from ‘Satyakam’
We did seven movies together — Devar (1966), Anupama (1966), Satyakam (1969), Chupke Chupke (1975) and others — over the years, each special in its own way. We hardly spoke during our first movie, Devar. It took our second movie together, Anupama, to break the ice. We shared the same birth date, December 8. Though I knew he was critical, I wish he had stayed back so we could have wished each other. Every time I saw Chupke Chupke, I would message him and say how much I loved him in it. It was not his usual He-Man role, and I feel he should have won awards for it.
Among all our films together, Satyakam was the most challenging because it was a serious social drama. Dharam revered Hrishida [Hrishikesh Mukherjee, director] and his work. During the shoot, Hrishida would tell Dharam not to think of himself as a star with an expensive car waiting outside the set, but as an honest and a poor man. I always found him listening and following the instructions of his directors closely, and never having any airs.
A still from ‘Chupke Chupke’. Pics/AFP, Youtube, Instagram
I remember we were shooting the song, Chhalka Yeh Jaam, for Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1967). We had to complete the song that night as I was travelling to Kolkata the next day to watch a cricket match. Dharam cooperated and extended the shooting. He worked all night so that the song could be completed by 7 am the next day. He helped the producers and me, and I was always grateful for that.
While he had the He-Man image on screen, off it, he was a kind, affectionate, gentle, and caring person. He was very protective about women, and we felt safe when he was shooting with us.
Despite his superstardom, there was never any starry attitude to him. I clearly remember he had met me in Delhi where I was shooting for Waqt (1965). We were sitting in the lobby of the Imperial Hotel, when a dishevelled-looking gentleman saw Dharam and shouted out something in Punjabi. Dharam got up, went to the man and embraced him. Later he told us that he hadn’t recognised the man, but responded to him as a person. And I have always seen him like that — warm, humble, and ever-smiling.
Hrishida would tease him, people would pull Dharam’s leg, saying, “Aap toh bohot bade aadmi ho”. But he would smile with twinkling eyes, never behaving like a star.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
