In a very significant way, Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who died in Mumbai on Monday after being ill for a short time, was multifaceted. He mastered both comedies and tragedies with unimaginable ease. Born Dharmendra Singh Deol in a humble Jat Sikh family in rural Punjab, he pushed his way to the higher echelons of moviedom to sink into characters that were mind-bogglingly varied and enormously captivating.

Once a Member of Parliament and the winner of Padma Bhushan in 2012, his private life had masala all right. Despite being married to Prakash Kaur, he tied the knot with “Dream Girl” Hema Malini. Yes, it was not a union Indian law recognised, but Dharmendra seemed not to care. Neither did Hema.........

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