Subhechcha Ganguly 
Actor-director Satyajeet Puri has opened up about veteran superstar Dharmendra’s remarkable courage during a turbulent period in Bollywood, when the underworld wielded considerable influence over the film industry.
In an interview with Friday Talkies, Puri revealed that Dharmendra stood his ground when many in the industry were intimidated by the underworld’s power. “At that time, the underworld was very strong. Many actors were afraid when they were summoned,” Puri recalled. “But Dharamji and his family never feared them. He would say, ‘If you come, the whole Sahnewal will come from Punjab. You have 10 people, but I have an army. One word from me and trucks full of people will come from Punjab to fight. Don’t mess with me.’ And they never did.”
Satyajeet Puri, son of veteran actor Satyen Puri, began his career as a child artist and went on to carve a versatile path as an actor, director, and producer. He has shared screen space with Dharmendra in several notable films, including Rajput (1982), Taqdeer Ka Badshah (1982), Betaab (1983), Batwara, and Izzatdaar (1990).
The 89-year-old Dharmendra, revered as one of Hindi cinema’s most enduring icons, was last seen in Amit Joshi’s romantic comedy Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, alongside Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Dimple Kapadia. He also made a celebrated comeback in Karan Johar’s 2023 blockbuster Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, co-starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh.
Up next, Dharmendra will reunite with filmmaker Sriram Raghavan—after their acclaimed collaboration in Johnny Gaddaar—for the upcoming war biopic Ikkis (2025). The film chronicles the heroic life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, who laid down his life at the age of 21 during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Ikkis is slated for a December 2025 theatrical release.
