His most successful pairing was with Hema Malini, who went on to become his wife.

[20] The couple
played together in many films including Raja Jani, Seeta Aur Geeta, Sharafat, Naya
Zamana, Patthar Aur Payal, Tum Haseen Main Jawaan, Jugnu, Dost, Charas, Maa, Chacha
Bhatija, Azaad and Sholay. His most notable acting performances include Satyakam with Hrishikesh
Mukherjee,[29] and Sholay, which is listed by Indiatimes as one of the "Top 25 must
see Bollywood films of all time". In 2005, the judges of the 50th annual Filmfare Awards
awarded Sholay the special distinction of Filmfare Best Film of 50 years.[30]
Dharmendra went on to star in a number of action films between 1976 and 1984, including Dharam
Veer, Charas, Azaad, Katilon Ke Kaatil, Ghazab, Rajput, Bhagawat, Jaani Dost, Dharm Aur
Qanoon, Main Intequam Loonga, Jeene Nahi Doonga, Hukumat and Raaj Tilak. Along with Rajesh
Khanna he acted in Tinku, Rajput and Dharm Aur Qanoon, all of which became hits, however their
last film in cameo appearance together; Mohabbat Ki Kasam (1986) was a flop.[31] He worked
with Jeetendra in Dharmveer, Samraat, Burning Train, Jaan Hatheli Pe, Kinara, Dharam
Karma and Nafrat Ki Aandhi. He also played con man or gangster in Shalimar, Qayamat, Jaan
Hatheli Pe, Jhuta Sach, Sitamgar, Professor Pyarelal and Phandebaaz.
He has worked with various directors, each with a different style of film-making. [32] His longest
collaboration was with director Arjun Hingoranifrom 1960 to 1991. Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere was
the debut film of Dharmendra as an actor and Arjun's first directorial venture with Dharmendra as the
lead hero.[33][34] They worked together in Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Kahani Kismat Ki, Khel Khilari
Ka, Katilon Ke Kaatiland Kaun Kare Kurbanie where Arjun Hingorani was the producer and the
director, and Sultanat and Karishma Kudrat Kaa, produced by Arjun Hingorani. He worked with
director Pramod Chakravorty in Naya Zamana, Dream Girl, Azaad and Jugnu. Dharmendra has
played dual roles in many films such as Yakeen (1969) as both the hero and the
villain, Samadhi (1972) as father and son, Ghazab (1982) as twin brothers, unrelated identical
person in Jhuta Sach and Jeeo Shaan Se (1997) in triple roles.
Dharmendra has worked with all members of the Kapoor family except for Prithviraj
kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. He has periodically made films in his native tongue of Punjabi, starring
in Kankan De Ohle (Special Appearance) (1970), Do Sher (1974), Dukh Bhanjan Tera
Naam (1974), Teri Meri Ik Jindri (1975), Putt Jattan De (1982) and Qurbani Jatt Di (1990).
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he continued to appear in many Hindi films in both leading and
supporting roles.[citation needed]

Dharmendra in October 2012

In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. While accepting the award from Dilip
Kumar and his wife Saira Banu, Dharmendra became emotional and remarked that he had never
won any Filmfare award in the Best Actor category despite having worked in so many successful
films and nearly a hundred popular movies.[35] Speaking on this occasion Dilip Kumar commented,
"Whenever I get to meet with God Almighty, I will set before Him my only complaint – why did you
not make me as handsome as Dharmendra?".[36]
He experimented with film production; he launched both of his sons in films: Sunny
Deol in Betaab (1983) and Bobby Deol in Barsaat (1995) as well as his nephew Abhay
Deol in Socha Na Tha (2005).[37] He was the presenter for his films like Satyakam (1969) and Kab
Kyun Aur Kahan(1970). In one of her interviews, actress Preity Zinta has been quoted as saying that
Dharmendra is her favourite actor. She recommended him to play her father's role in Har Pal (2008).
[38]

After a four-year hiatus from acting since 2003, he reappeared in films as a character actor in 2007
in Life in a... Metro and Apne; both films were both critically and commercially successful. In the
latter, he appears with both his sons, Sunny and Bobby for the first time.[39] His other release
was Johnny Gaddaar. In 2011, he starred alongside his sons again in Yamla Pagla Deewana, which
was released on 14 January 2011. [40]
A sequel, Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, was released in 2013. He appeared with his daughter Esha
Deol in his wife (Hema Malini)'s directorial venture, Tell Me O Khuda in 2011. In 2014, he played a
double role in the Punjabi film, Double Di Trouble.[41]

Television[edit]
In 2011, Dharmendra replaced Sajid Khan as the male judge of the third series of popular reality
show India's Got Talent.[42]
On 29 July 2011, India's Got Talent aired on Colors with Dharmendra as the new judge and
surpassed the opening ratings of the previous two seasons. [43]

Film producer[edit]
In 1983, Dharmendra set up a production company known as Vijayta Films. In its maiden
venture Betaab, released in 1983,Vijayta Films launched Sunny Deol as the lead actor. The movie
was the second highest-grossing movie of the year. In 1990 he produced the action film Ghayal, also
starring Sunny. The film won seven Filmfare Awards, including the Best Movie Award. It won
the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Dharmendra
then launched the career of his younger son, Bobby, in 1995 in Barsaat.[44]

Politics[edit]
Dharmendra served as a Member of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha)
representing Bikaner in Rajasthan from 2004 to 2009 on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party. During
his election campaign in 2004, he made an offensive remark that he should be elected dictator
perpetuo to teach "basic etiquette that democracy requires" for which he was severely criticised.
[45]
 He rarely attended Parliament when the house was in sessio