Dharmendra’s Hidden Poetry: Beyond the Screen

Transcript

00:00Everyone remembers Dharmedra the hero. Not everyone remembers Dharmedra the poet.

00:24His journey into poetry reportedly started after a back surgery when he was alone,

00:28in pain with no one to talk to. Sitting in silence, he began putting down thoughts

00:33just to keep himself company. That silence turned into routine. Routine turned into poetry.

00:41Javed Akhtar told us about visiting Dharmedra's farm where they spent time discussing poetry.

00:46He used to be relaxed and then in the evening so often he used to sit with us and recite poetry

00:54and listen to my poetry and as we talk about other poets, complaints on a particular topic.

01:01In later years, he shared that poet with the world on Instagram in simple videos shot at home.

01:07Long pauses, voice breaking sometimes, but he recited for the people who loved him.

01:12And when Dharmedra went out for film promotions, photographers often gathered around and called

01:30out, Sir Ekshir Ekshir. He would stop, smile and recite a line or two, his old school charm shining through.

01:38Fans and paps alike waited for these moments because it was Dharmedra being himself,

01:42the poet behind the legend.

01:44For decades, people celebrated the macho star. But the truth is simple. Behind the he-man image,

02:00lived a man who wrote, recited and felt deeply. This is Dharmedra. Many never got to see. The poet,

02:08who always existed, who always existed, who always existed, Minit the hero.