This Veteran Bollywood Actor Got Just Rs 51 For His First Film

The Hindi film industry has rewarded many celebrities with a luminous career. Superstars like Rajinikanth, Anil Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan earlier used to do odd jobs. Among them, actors, who had no family connection in Bollywood and even lived in a garage is none other than the He-Man of Bollywood, Dharmendra. However, he later became one of the biggest stars in the industry, delivering several hits and blockbusters.

Despite facing his fair share of struggles, this actor, Dharmendra, now enjoys a luxurious life. Dharmendra opened up about his early challenges while speaking on Indian Idol. He revealed that when he first came to Mumbai, he didn’t have a proper place to live, so he stayed in a garage. To support himself, he worked at a drilling company, earning Rs 200. He also mentioned doing extra hours to earn more money.

His first film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, didn’t do well at the box office and didn’t get much attention. Dharmendra revealed on Dance Deewane that he was paid just Rs 51 for signing the film. He remembered being in the producer’s office where three people each gave him Rs 17, adding up to Rs 51. Despite the movie’s lack of success, Dharmendra feels fortunate about receiving that amount.

Afterwards, the actor starred in several successful movies such as Shola Aur Shabnam, Mohan Kumar’s Anpadh and Bimal Roy’s Bandini, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. He also acted in hit films like Ayee Milan Ki Bela and Phool Aur Patthar, which catapulted him to stardom in the industry.

The actor continues to dazzle audiences with his performances. He starred in Karan Johar’s film, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which was a major success. Viewers loved his acting in the movie. Furthermore, he recently appeared in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya alongside Kriti Sanon and Shahid Kapoor, and the film also performed strongly at the box office.

According to reports, Dharmendra earns Rs 5 crore for each movie, putting him among the highest-paid actors in Bollywood. Additionally, it’s said that he has a net worth of Rs 335 crore and possesses a 100-acre farmhouse in Lonavala. Dharmendra lives a lavish lifestyle, and his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, are also well-known Bollywood actors. Last year, both of their films, Gadar 2 and Animal set new box office records.