‘Give my makeup room to Dharmendra’: Anil Sharma recalls Raj Kapoor’s admiration for 'Sholay' star and his first meeting with Hema Malini and Dharamji

Director Anil Sharma, best known for his successful collaborations with veteran actor Dharmendra in films like ‘Hukumat’, ‘Elaan-E-Jung’, and ‘Tahalka’, once shared a heartwarming memory of meeting the superstar for the first time.



In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Sharma recalled how he was completely mesmerized by Dharmendra’s charm and humility

“Dharmendra was the only star for whom Raj Kapoor had said, ‘If Dharam comes, give my makeup room to him.’ No one else was allowed,” Anil Sharma shared. “One day, when Dharamji arrived on set, he was given the makeup room. I was very young then, it was my first day as an assistant, and we had just started the practice of sharing call sheets. I remember going to deliver the sheet. When I knocked, the door opened, and I first saw Hemaji (Hema Malini). Then I saw Dharmendra—and I just stood there, staring at them in awe. They had such a beautiful aura. After a while, he said, ‘Okay, I’m leaving.’”




Anil Sharma fondly remembered how nervous he was when he finally interacted with the actor

“I ran to Dharmendra to hand over the call sheet. ‘Sir, sir, tomorrow’s call sheet,’ I said. He looked at it and asked, ‘Ae ki honda hai?’ and tore it, saying, ‘I know this.’ The colour drained from my face! Then he smiled at me and asked, ‘You’re an assistant?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir, I just joined.’ He smiled again and said, ‘Okay, all the best. Do a good job.’”

The filmmaker said that Dharmendra’s warmth and simplicity left a lifelong impression on him

“His smile, his aura, his humanity, as soon as he smiled at me, I felt the colour return to my face,” Sharma said with affection.

Dharmendra’s special bond with Raj Kapoor

Anil Sharma also highlighted the deep friendship Dharmendra shared with the legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, noting the immense respect the latter always had for him. Their camaraderie, Sharma said, was truly rare and heartfelt.

Dharmendra’s recent health update

Meanwhile, the 89-year-old veteran actor was recently discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after undergoing a series of medical tests. His daughter, Esha Deol, assured fans, saying, “My father is stable and recovering. We request everyone to give our family privacy.”

Hema Malini also condemned false reports about his health, calling them “unforgivable”

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