Dharmendra wanted an 'amazing role' for comeback, but his wish remained unfulfilled!

Dharmendra, the towering force who helped shape the very soul of Hindi cinema, would have stepped into his 90th year today, December 8. But destiny, with its own quiet script, chose a different ending. The legendary star bid farewell on November 24, leaving an entire nation wrapped in grief and nostalgia.

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Dharmendra and His Legacy

Dharmendra carved a legacy through countless powerful portrayals- heroes who fought injustice, men who wore their emotions on their sleeve, and characters who resonated with audiences long after the credits rolled.

Even in the twilight of his life, the actor who once dominated screens with effortless charisma dreamed of returning with equal force. He didn’t want just another appearance- he longed for an amazing role worthy of his stature, a comeback that would remind the world of the star he once was and still believed himself to be. 

A Filmmaker’s Fond Memories

Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who directed Dharmendra in several films, including Hukumat and Apne, remembered the icon with immense respect and tenderness. In a conversation with Hussain Zaid on YouTube, he reflected on Dharmendra’s humility, marvelling at how “even an icon like him never realised how big a hero he truly was.”

According to Anil, the world’s reaction to Dharmendra’s passing showed just how deeply he was loved. Social media flooded with tributes, and he and his team found themselves revisiting his films- smiling, laughing, and enjoying the action that once enthralled millions. He recalled that fans not just in India but even in Pakistan cherished Dharmendra’s songs and movies, and how calls poured in from around the globe when the actor’s health declined.

A Final Conversation, Filled with Love

Anil went on to share the details of what would unknowingly become his last meeting with Dharmendra. He had gone to visit Bobby Deol at their home in September, and there, Dharmendra greeted him with warmth, affection and generous blessings- just as he always had. But behind the genial smiles, there was an eagerness, a longing that surfaced the moment the conversation turned to work.

The Unfulfilled Wish of a Legend

Dharmendra asked him about the progress of Apne and made a heartfelt request. Anil recalled, “He told me, ‘Yaar Anil beta, mere liye ek bahut kamaal ka role likh. Mujhe kuch karna hai abhi. Camera meri mehbooba hai, woh mujhe bula rahi hai. Mujhe jaana hai uske paas. Kuch kar abhi. Koi achha role likh.’ (Write an amazing role for me. I still want to work. The camera is my beloved, it is calling me. I want to be in front of it. Write a good role for me).”

The filmmaker remembered how Dharmendra repeated this request not once, but thrice, with a spark in his eyes that could only come from unmatched passion.

“I promised him that I would write a role for him,” Anil continued. “I didn’t know that he would pass away just a few months later. This was my last meeting with him. I thought: he’s about to turn 90, and look at his zeal. He still loved cinema so much - it was never business for him; it was his passion.”

A Dream That Never Made It to the Screen

Dharmendra was ready- heart, mind and soul- for another memorable performance. The camera, which he lovingly called his “mehbooba,” was still calling. He was willing, eager, and impatient to answer. But fate intervened before a script could.

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For a man who gave Indian cinema some of its most enduring characters, the desire for one last powerful role remained painfully unfulfilled.

Yet, even without that final performance, his legacy stands- alive, celebrated, and cherished- proving that some stars never really fade; they simply change their form, living on in the hearts of those who loved them.