Remembering Dharmendra through his most iconic dialogues

Dharmendra was not just a star; he was an attitude, a presence, and a voice that defined generations of Bollywood audiences. Across his long career, the actor delivered some of the most memorable lines in Hindi cinema, each carrying the weight of his charisma and personality.

One of the most enduring is from the 1975 classic ‘Sholay’: “Kutte, Kamine, main tera khoon pi jaaunga!”. No one did anger quite like Dharmendra, and this line became a cultural phenomenon. It was shouted in college canteens, mimicked on stage, and forever cemented the actor as the embodiment of Bollywood machismo. The same film also gave audiences another unforgettable line: “Basanti, in kutton ke saamne mat nachna.” Spoken with a mix of protectiveness and defiance, it captured the essence of his heroism — fierce, fearless, and larger-than-life.

In ‘Dharam Veer’ (1977), Dharmendra’s line “Mard banne ke liye shareer nahi, himmat chahiye” became a mantra for courage. And even earlier, in ‘Phool Aur Patthar’ (1966), he declared, “Jo darr gaya, samjho marr gaya.” Long before Bollywood’s newer heroes made fearlessness fashionable, Dharmendra had already defined it. These punch-packed lines were never just about bravery — they were about attitude, a declaration that he lived life on his own terms, refusing to bow to fear or fate. Decades later, they remain rallying cries for every rebel at heart.

Yet Dharmendra’s range extended far beyond bravado. In Anurag Basu’s 2007 ensemble drama ‘Life in a… Metro’, he delivered a quieter, more introspective line as Amol: “Dil ke mamle mein hamesha dil ki sunni chahiye.” With calm conviction, he reminded audiences that love and emotion require honesty and courage of a different kind. Sharing the screen with actors like Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kay Kay Menon, Shilpa Shetty, and Shiney Ahuja, Dharmendra’s delivery stood out, proving that even decades into his career, he could imbue a single line with profound simplicity and depth.