# Dharmendra filmography
The filmography of **Dharmendra** (Dharam Singh Deol) covers more than 300 Hindi-language films released across six decades, from his 1960 debut in *Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere* to the war biopic *Ikkis*, completed shortly before his death in November 2025.[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d) Database counts differ by source: the Indian Film History database lists 300 titles in his filmography, and the Indian Express states he acted in over 300 films.[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dharmendra) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/from-drama-and-action-to-romance-and-comedy-dharmendra-was-a-man-for-all-seasons-10392903/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Film debut | *Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere* (1960), directed by Arjun Hingorani[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dharmendra) |
| Career span | Six decades, 1960 to 2025; more than 300 films[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d) |
| Defining role | Veeru in *Sholay* (1975), opposite Amitabh Bachchan[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d) |
| Breakthrough | *Phool Aur Patthar* (1966), which made him a star and earned his first Filmfare Best Actor nomination[4](https://admin.indiannewslink.co.nz/uploads/INL_566_December_1_2025_cbc4df7d9d.pdf) |
| Awards record | Four Filmfare Best Actor nominations without a win; Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/when-dharmendra-admitted-getting-new-suits-stitched-every-year-in-anticipation-of-an-award-but-never-got-one-10360649/) |
| Production work | Launched his banner Vijayta Films with *Betaab* (1983) to introduce son Sunny Deol; later produced *Ghayal* (1990)[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004429/) |
| Final film | *Ikkis*, directed by Sriram Raghavan, scheduled for release December 25, 2025[7](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/dharmendra-the-superstar-who-balanced-rugged-charm-with-rare-tenderness-125112400722_1.html) |
## Early roles and breakthrough, 1960 to 1969
Dharmendra made his debut as the lead in Arjun Hingorani's *Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere* in 1960, for a reported fee of Rs 51.[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/when-dharmendra-admitted-getting-new-suits-stitched-every-year-in-anticipation-of-an-award-but-never-got-one-10360649/) In the years that followed, he took supporting roles such as *Boy Friend* (1961) and was cast as the romantic interest in several woman-centered films from 1960 to 1967, in which the story revolved around the heroine and he appeared opposite established leading actresses of the time.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004429/)
**Early range.** His early filmography already moved beyond romantic leads. He played a negative role in *Aayee Milan Ki Bela* (1964), a film otherwise starring [Rajendra Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajendra-kumar) and [Saira Banu](https://www.edgepedia.org/saira-banu),[7](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/dharmendra-the-superstar-who-balanced-rugged-charm-with-rare-tenderness-125112400722_1.html) and in 1965 he received a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.[8](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/dharmendra/bio/3030001111/) The turning point came with *Phool Aur Patthar* (1966), a runaway hit that transformed him into a star and brought his first Filmfare Best Actor nomination.[4](https://admin.indiannewslink.co.nz/uploads/INL_566_December_1_2025_cbc4df7d9d.pdf)
The 1966 *Anupama*, directed by [Hrishikesh Mukherjee](https://www.edgepedia.org/hrishikesh-mukherjee), showed the sensitive side of his screen persona: he played a writer who gently helps Uma ([Sharmila Tagore](https://www.edgepedia.org/sharmila-tagore)) break free from a negligent father.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/from-drama-and-action-to-romance-and-comedy-dharmendra-was-a-man-for-all-seasons-10392903/)
## Peak stardom, 1970s and 1980s
Dharmendra's most recognized work clusters in the 1970s. The action drama *Mera Gaon Mera Desh* (1971) and the romantic comedy *Chupke Chupke* (1975) are among the hits that made him one of the most recognizable film faces of that era.[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d) *Seeta Aur Geeta* (1972) cast him as the romantic lead opposite [Hema Malini](https://www.edgepedia.org/hema-malini)'s double role and showed his comic timing, and the song "Main Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana" from that film helped shape his enduring public image.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/from-drama-and-action-to-romance-and-comedy-dharmendra-was-a-man-for-all-seasons-10392903/)
*Sholay* (1975), [Ramesh Sippy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramesh-sippy)'s take on the [Spaghetti Western](https://www.edgepedia.org/spaghetti-western), gave him the role of Veeru alongside [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan); the film is regarded as one of India's greatest and the pair's on-screen partnership became one of Bollywood's most iconic.[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d) From 1974 onward he was cast predominantly as an action hero, and his intensity in films such as *Bandini* and *Satyakam* coexisted with romantic work like *Dream Girl* and comic turns in *Sholay* and *Chupke Chupke*.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004429/) • [9](https://indianexpress.com/?p=10388472-10388472%2F&post_type=article)
**Screen chemistry with Hema Malini.** His pairing with Hema Malini, whom he married in 1980, spanned more than two dozen films and became one of Bollywood's most popular on-screen collaborations.[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d)
The volume of his output in these years was high: the BollywoodMDB year-by-year list shows numerous releases each year through the 1980s, including 1988 alone with *Ganga Tere Desh Mein*, *Zalzala*, *Soorma Bhopali*, *Mardon Wali Baat*, *Mahaveera*, *Khatron Ke Khiladi*, *Sone Pe Suhaaga*, and *Paap Ko Jalaa Kar Raakh Kar Doonga*.[10](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/dharmendra-nm-199/movies) He played lead roles until the late 1980s before moving to supporting characters.[7](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/dharmendra-the-superstar-who-balanced-rugged-charm-with-rare-tenderness-125112400722_1.html)
## Producer
In 1983 [Dharmendra](https://www.edgepedia.org/dharmendra) diversified into production, launching his elder son Sunny in *Betaab* through his banner Vijayta Films; the film was a major hit. In 1990 he produced *Ghayal*, again starring [Sunny Deol](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunny-deol).[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004429/)
## Later career and the 2007 return
Through the 1990s and 2000s Dharmendra moved to character-driven roles, frequently portraying paternal figures.[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d) After a period out of the mainstream, he returned to the screen in 2007 with three releases: *Life in a... Metro* (11 May 2007), *Apne* (29 June 2007), and *Johnny Gaddaar* (28 September 2007), in which he played a villain, followed by a cameo in *Om Shanti Om* (9 November 2007).[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dharmendra) • [11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/dharmendra/filmography/) The family theme continued with *Yamla Pagla Deewana* (2011), co-starring his sons, and its sequel *Yamla Pagla Deewana 2* (2013).[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dharmendra)
In his last decade he worked steadily in supporting parts: *Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani* (2023) and *Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya* (2024), with *Ikkis*, [Sriram Raghavan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sriram-raghavan)'s war biopic of [Param Vir Chakra](https://www.edgepedia.org/param-vir-chakra) awardee [Arun Khetarpal](https://www.edgepedia.org/arun-khetarpal), listed for 2026 release.[11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/dharmendra/filmography/) • [12](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/dharmendra/upcoming-movies.html) Sources differ on the *Ikkis* release date: the Business Standard profile says December 25 (2025), while FilmiBeat lists January 1, 2026.[7](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/dharmendra-the-superstar-who-balanced-rugged-charm-with-rare-tenderness-125112400722_1.html) • [12](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/dharmendra/upcoming-movies.html)
## Genre profile and awards record
A 1976 Filmfare retrospective held by the Tuli Research Centre observed that Dharmendra appeared in almost every genre of [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) aside from teenage romances and horror films.[13](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/dharmendra/research-centre/all/magazine-karanjia-filmfare-english-25-1-09-jan-1976) The filmography bears this out across drama, action, romance, and comedy, and also extends beyond Hindi: [BookMyShow](https://www.edgepedia.org/bookmyshow) credits him with Punjabi titles (*Jora 10 Numbaria*, *Double Di Trouble*), Bhojpuri, Telugu, and Gujarati releases, and Filmibeat lists him as singer on *Yamla Pagla Deewana 2*.[14](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/dharmendra/582/filmography) • [12](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/dharmendra/upcoming-movies.html)
Awards followed the films slowly. Despite the hits, Dharmendra received only one early Filmfare award, for Best Talent, followed by a lifetime achievement award in 1997, presented by Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu at the 42nd Filmfare Awards; in his acceptance speech he said he had stitched a new suit every year hoping for an award, and never got one.[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/when-dharmendra-admitted-getting-new-suits-stitched-every-year-in-anticipation-of-an-award-but-never-got-one-10360649/) IMDb records four Best Actor nominations over his career without a win.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004429/) In 2012 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honor.[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d)
## By the numbers
- **More than 300 films** across a six-decade career, from 1960 to his final work in *Ikkis*.[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d)
- **More than two dozen films** with Hema Malini.[1](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d)
- **Four Filmfare Best Actor nominations** and one Lifetime Achievement Award (1997).[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/when-dharmendra-admitted-getting-new-suits-stitched-every-year-in-anticipation-of-an-award-but-never-got-one-10360649/)
- **1965 to 1966**, the span from his Filmfare Best Supporting Actor nomination to the stardom of *Phool Aur Patthar*.[8](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/dharmendra/bio/3030001111/) • [4](https://admin.indiannewslink.co.nz/uploads/INL_566_December_1_2025_cbc4df7d9d.pdf)
## References
1. [Dharmendra, iconic Bollywood actor and Indian cinema's 'He-Man,' dies at 89, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/c5303c0c0ad57f01f4cf10a60fca9a4d)
2. [Dharmendra, Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dharmendra)
3. [From drama and action to romance and comedy, Dharmendra was a man for all seasons, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/from-drama-and-action-to-romance-and-comedy-dharmendra-was-a-man-for-all-seasons-10392903/)
4. [38 Entertainmentlink, Indian Newslink (December 2025)](https://admin.indiannewslink.co.nz/uploads/INL_566_December_1_2025_cbc4df7d9d.pdf)
5. [When Dharmendra admitted getting new suits stitched every year in anticipation of an award but never got one, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/when-dharmendra-admitted-getting-new-suits-stitched-every-year-in-anticipation-of-an-award-but-never-got-one-10360649/)
6. [Dharmendra, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004429/)
7. [Dharmendra, the superstar who balanced rugged charm with rare tenderness, Business Standard](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/dharmendra-the-superstar-who-balanced-rugged-charm-with-rare-tenderness-125112400722_1.html)
8. [Dharmendra Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/dharmendra/bio/3030001111/)
9. [Express View: Dharmendra, the He-Man with soft eyes, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/?p=10388472-10388472%2F&post_type=article)
10. [Dharmendra Complete Movie List & Filmography, BollywoodMDB](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/dharmendra-nm-199/movies)
11. [Dharmendra Movies List & Filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/dharmendra/filmography/)
12. [Dharmendra Filmography / Upcoming Movies, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/dharmendra/upcoming-movies.html)
13. [Dharmendra, Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (Filmfare, January 1976)](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/dharmendra/research-centre/all/magazine-karanjia-filmfare-english-25-1-09-jan-1976)
14. [Dharmendra Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/dharmendra/582/filmography)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actor filmographies and performer list articles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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