8th December Dharmendra - Sharmila

December 8th

1935 : Dharmendra ( turns 87)

1944: Sharmila Tagore (turns 78)

such  evergreen stars , Dashingly Handsome and Dimpled Beauty are born on the same day.

This Couple was Hrishikesh Mukherjees favorite.. It is mentioned in his Biography that he has said

"I love all my actors but Dharmendra among the men and Sharmila among the Women and the movies they have worked together are Special "

The two made an interesting and very successful pair, especially in the films that they did together for Hrishikesh Mukherjee. 

Here's a list of films of this birthday special pairing

Anupama (1966)

This was the first time Hrishikesh Mukherjee brought this very compatible pair together. Sharmila played Uma, a repressed girl who hardly spoke. Dharmendra plays a poet and a writer who tried to bring the shy withdrawn Uma out of her shell. Their performances so complemented one another that Hrishida went on record to state this was his favourite star pair. A lot of us agree. Anupama was memorable for its melodies composed by Hemant Kumar.

Devar (1966)

In the same year as Anupama came another powerful drama, this one directed by Mohan Segal. Like Anupama, Devar too was about repressed unspoken love. Dharmendra played Sharmila’s brother-in-law, silently in love with her as he watched her suffer in a bad marriage. A film way head of its times, it was made memorable by composer Roshan’s melodies, "Baharon ne mera chaman lutkar" and "Guzra zamana bachpan ka" sung by Mukesh.

Mere Humdam Mere Dost (1968) 

Dharmendra and Sharmila looked smashing together in Mere Humdum Mere Dost. Lakximant-Pyarelal’s songs went a long way into making this routine film a blockbuster. Chalkaye Jaam, Chalo Sajana, Na jaa Kahin Ab Na Jaa, Hui Shaam Unka Khayaal aa gaya,were blockbusters and heard even today.

Satyakam (1969)

Regarded by most as Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s best film and by far Dharmendra’s most accomplished performance, Satyakam released in 1969. As a man whose idealism destroys his family, Dharmendra’s natural performance has withstood all ravages of time. Sharmila plays the perfect foil as his supportive wife.

Yakeen (1969)

During the same year as Satyakam, Dharmendra and Sharmila were seen together in the kitschy espionage thriller Yakeen, directed by Brij Sadanah. The film is most memorable for its title song which included the hot blooded hero chasing Sharmila, who sported modern outfits. Put her in a ghagra-choli or a western outfit, Sharmila was game for any role. Shankar Jaikishan were the music directors.Yakeen has Dharam Ji in a double role. It was an important film as with it began Dharmendra’s transition towards being the all-time “He-Man”, an action hero – as we would see him quite often in the 1970s... Sharmila looks amazingly beautiful in Yakeen. The duo looks picture perfect!

In the early 1970s, Sharmila was busy doing films with Rajesh Khanna. But she reunited with Dharmendra in 1975  for their beloved director Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s comedy Chupke Chupke, which has acquired cult status over the years.

Chupke Chupke (1975)

Hrishikesh Mukherjee, however, was not your usual filmmaker. He went beyond the image and did a number of films which tapped the comic talent of the duo. “Chupke Chupke” is a classic example of a film where you smile almost all the way through. Be it Dharmendra entering the film as a botany professor and quickly donning the garb of a watchman, Sharmila the student who falls in love and marries him.The drama gets a twist with the entry of Sulekha’s jijaji (Om Prakash in crackling form) and his constant wit and repartee sessions with the professor who uses drag as his main weapon in the game of one-upmanship. We also have  Amitabh Bachchan as a sober, drab academic and Jaya as his bubbly student and we have all the ingredients of an out and out entertainer.

Ek Mahal Ho Sapano Ka (1975)

A love triangle featuring Dharmendra with Sharmila and Leena Chandavarkar. This is potentially the  most forgettable film from the Dharam-Sharmila oeuvre. Directed by Devendra Goel it did have Ravi give beautiful soulful music ( Title Song, Dil Main Kisi Ke pyaar Ka,  Dekha Hain Zindagi ko ) to this rathur soulless caper.

After this we had two films

Chaitali ( which had Saira Banu replacing Sharmila after almost 8 reels )

Devdas ( Stared by Gulzar with Dharamendra Hema and Sharmila but shelved )

Finally they came together in 1984 

Sunny 

Sunny in 1984 was the last film in which we saw this screen pair together. Again, the songs made this film of theirs stand out in the 1980s. “Aur kya ahd-e-wafaa hotey hain, log milte hain, judaa hotay hain” is remembered till date as the song that plays an important part in the story. The dignified charm of Sharmila Tagore and the suave looks of Dharam ji added greatly to the weight of the love story of the younger pair-Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh. This was Dharmendra’s home production, where Sharmila played his mistress. He dies at the beginning of the film leaving behind the two women in his life, Sharmila and Waheeda Rehman to fight it out. 

From Anupama in 1966 to Sunny in 1984, Dharmendra and Sharmila, on this journey of dreams, have given us some beautiful films  with equally beautiful songs that always remind us of the fascinating romance they created on the silver screen. A romance that has been captured forever. For people to watch and rejoice in... Wishing both these stars a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY .

May both cross a magical 3 figure.

With inputs and reference : Subash K Jha.

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