Living Legends Dharmendra-Sharmila Tagore Share A Common Birthday (Dec 8)-What Else ?

Chaitanya Padukone

This Sunday, on December 8^th, the dignified iconic Bollywood lead actress Sharmila Tagore will turn 75 years of age. By a wonderful coincidence, the articulate Sharmila shares her birthday with the macho, yet highly emotional Dharmendra who will complete 84 years. Interesting as it may sound, Sharmila had a very successful popular pairing opposite rugged Dharmendra, along with whom she starred in ‘eight’ movies – Devar (1966), Anupama (1966), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968), Satyakam (1969), Yakeen (1969), Chupke Chupke (1975), Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka (1975) and of course Sunny (1984). One thing common between Dharam-paaji and Sharmila is that both consider themselves as “non-dancers” on-screen . But their ardent fans and theatre- audiences have never ever complained, because their acting calibre was always so commendable. Comparatively Sharmila ( first Bollywood actress to wear a ‘bikini’ in this 1967-Hindi movie ‘An Evening in Paris’ ) is a far better graceful dancer as compared to Dharam-jee’s typical quirky type of awkward movements in the famous retro-song ‘Main Jatt Yamla Pagla’ from ‘Pratiggya’(1975). Although versatile Dharmendra has been conferred with the Padma Bhushan title and has been a former elected M.P. from Punjab, he has never won the Filmfare Award, in the Best Actor category despite being ‘nominated’ six times for his excellent performances in various movies like ‘Phool Aur Patthar’ and ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’ . Some years ago, at a film-party, Dharam-jee personally told me that “ the love, affection and adulation of his loyal fans is his biggest award and reward which keeps him moving ahead in life.” In 1997, the versatile ‘Chupke Chupke’ actor was presented with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award . While presenting him the Filmfare trophy, the illustrious legend 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?”. Padma Bhushan Sharmila Tagore (former Chair-Person of the CBFC—Censor Board) has acted in meaningful memorable lead roles in movies like Aradhana, ‘Talash , Safar , ‘Amar Prem, Mausam, Grihapravesh, Kashmir Ki Kali and Dooriyaan. But then even she has won only one Filmfare Award as Best Actress ( ‘Aradhana’) as also the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. “ Frankly, I never aspired to be a star and I consider myself to be an accidental actress,” Sharmila once told me wearing her dimpled smile. The charismatic affable actor Dharam-paaji who is known for his flair for writing Urdu shaayri and romantic couplets, keeps himself active working on his farm, in the midst of organic crops that he plants every season.