Marking nine decades of Dharmendra - here are six lesser-known stories that reveal the man behind Bollywood’s original He-Man, straight from fans, family, and candid interviews.

From humble beginnings in Punjab to a film career spanning 65 years, Dharmendra became Bollywood’s “He-Man” - winning hearts in over 300 films, from romantic classics and action-packed blockbusters to unforgettable roles in Sholay and Phool Aur Patthar.

Dharmendra and Meena Kumari in Phool Aur Pathar (1966)

To mark his 90th birthday, let's uncover six lesser known facts about the He-Man of Bollywood that you may not know.

A Garage for a Home

Before he became He-Man, Dharmendra’s first Mumbai address was a garage - really. He confessed on “Indian Idol 11” that a leaky garage was his roof while struggling for film roles. “Sometimes, I’d wake up to find frogs hopping beside me,” he joked. Stints at a drilling firm paid the princely sum of Rs 200 - a far cry from the stardom to come.

He Paid for Hugs

A scene from Sholay where Dharmendra’s character Veeru teaches Hema’s character Basanti how to hold the revolver

Remember the iconic Sholay romance with Hema Malini? During the revolver-teaching sequence, Dharmendra reportedly bribed light boys Rs 20 per retake to purposely disturb the shot, so that he can keep hugging the dream girl again and again. Hema Malini and crew laughed about it for years.

From Clerk to Contest Winner

Dharmendra in his first ever film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere

Before fame, Dharmendra worked as a government clerk in Ludhiana, earning Rs 125 a month. His big break? Submitting a photograph to Filmfare’s talent search. The rest is history: debut in “Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere,” not a blockbuster but his passport to a 300-film career.

Social Media, Old School

Unlike most stars, Dharmendra still personally replies to fans on Instagram - no social media team, no slick PR person ghostwriting. He prefers direct connections, even at 90!

Seven Hits in a Year

Dharmendra’s record breaking streak of back-to-back blockbuster hits in 1987

He holds a nearly unbeatable record: in 1987, seven of his films ran as box-office hits in the same year - a feat no Bollywood hero has repeated.

He-Man Wasn’t Just Hype

The “He-Man” moniker? Coined after his fearless bare-chested action in “Phool Aur Patthar” (1966), but cemented by real-life daredevilry - DPs would share tales of him doing his own stunts (sometimes disobeying doctors), dusting off injuries with a grin.

Even at 90, he calls himself “just a simple Jat boy from Punjab.” Fans note his humility at public events - happiest at roadside dhabas, often ordering chai and reminiscing with spot boys he’s known for decades. A legacy built on brawn, heart, and more mischievous wisdom than any interview can capture.