Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who directed Dharmendra in several films, says the actor’s physical stamina remained unmatched even in his 70s. During the outdoor shoot of Apne (2007), Dharmendra delivered a moment that left the crew and thousands of onlookers stunned. Sharma recalled in an interview with Vickey Lalwani that the actor was visibly happy throughout the film’s making, and would often get emotional while listening to or watching scenes from the story.
For one particular sequence, Dharmendra had to ride a bicycle alongside a moving train. Sharma said that around 10,000–15,000 people gathered on location and started shouting the actor’s name. Energised by the crowd, the late actor pedalled with such intensity that he ended up getting ahead of the train on the rough path beside the tracks. According to Sharma, this was a moment that reflected the actor’s natural athleticism and the enthusiasm he brought to his work even at 71. Source: Vickey Lalwani interview.
Sharma added that Apne was a meaningful project for Dharmendra, as he had long wanted to share the screen with both his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. The director said the script took more than a year to shape because he wanted a story driven primarily by emotion rather than heavy action. He noted that one of Dharmendra’s strongest scenes was the emotional moment in the boxing ring, where the actor’s performance felt intensely real. Sharma mentioned that Dharmendra and his sons never relied on glycerine for emotional scenes; their tears flowed naturally. Source: Vickey Lalwani interview.
Swimming and physiotherapy were routine parts of his schedule, helping him stay flexible and maintain joint strength. He often shared glimpses of these sessions online to motivate others, especially after undergoing an eye surgery. He believed yoga was essential for a healthy life and would often remark, with his characteristic humour, that he felt like a child at heart despite his age. Source: Lifestyle features on Dharmendra’s fitness journey.
Water workouts also became important after a fall a few years ago, offering him a safe and refreshing way to stay in motion. The actor frequently spoke about how yoga and aqua exercises kept him energetic, saying that staying active was the biggest reason he felt young.
The Simple Diet That Supported His Lifestyle
Dharmendra’s health habits extended to his food choices. He spent much of his time at his farmhouse, where he preferred breathing clean air and eating fresh, home-grown produce. Reports note that he avoided sugar and relied heavily on organic fruits and vegetables, including bottle gourd and zucchini, which he grew himself. Gardening and farming not only supplied his meals but also kept him physically active.
Whether cycling past a train at 71 or practising yoga at 89, Dharmendra maintained a lifestyle rooted in discipline, movement, and simplicity. His long-standing dedication to fitness, his emotional connection to his work, and his love for simple food shaped a life that stayed active and spirited until his final years.
For one particular sequence, Dharmendra had to ride a bicycle alongside a moving train. Sharma said that around 10,000–15,000 people gathered on location and started shouting the actor’s name. Energised by the crowd, the late actor pedalled with such intensity that he ended up getting ahead of the train on the rough path beside the tracks. According to Sharma, this was a moment that reflected the actor’s natural athleticism and the enthusiasm he brought to his work even at 71. Source: Vickey Lalwani interview.
Sharma added that Apne was a meaningful project for Dharmendra, as he had long wanted to share the screen with both his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. The director said the script took more than a year to shape because he wanted a story driven primarily by emotion rather than heavy action. He noted that one of Dharmendra’s strongest scenes was the emotional moment in the boxing ring, where the actor’s performance felt intensely real. Sharma mentioned that Dharmendra and his sons never relied on glycerine for emotional scenes; their tears flowed naturally. Source: Vickey Lalwani interview.
His Approach to Fitness Through the Decades
Dharmendra’s ability to deliver such demanding performances later in life came from habits he maintained consistently. Known as Bollywood’s “He-Man,” the actor prioritised physical activity and simple living well into his late years. As reported in lifestyle features on his health journey, Dharmendra continued gym workouts, daily yoga, and water-based exercises even as he approached 90.Swimming and physiotherapy were routine parts of his schedule, helping him stay flexible and maintain joint strength. He often shared glimpses of these sessions online to motivate others, especially after undergoing an eye surgery. He believed yoga was essential for a healthy life and would often remark, with his characteristic humour, that he felt like a child at heart despite his age. Source: Lifestyle features on Dharmendra’s fitness journey.
Water workouts also became important after a fall a few years ago, offering him a safe and refreshing way to stay in motion. The actor frequently spoke about how yoga and aqua exercises kept him energetic, saying that staying active was the biggest reason he felt young.
The Simple Diet That Supported His Lifestyle
Dharmendra’s health habits extended to his food choices. He spent much of his time at his farmhouse, where he preferred breathing clean air and eating fresh, home-grown produce. Reports note that he avoided sugar and relied heavily on organic fruits and vegetables, including bottle gourd and zucchini, which he grew himself. Gardening and farming not only supplied his meals but also kept him physically active.
Whether cycling past a train at 71 or practising yoga at 89, Dharmendra maintained a lifestyle rooted in discipline, movement, and simplicity. His long-standing dedication to fitness, his emotional connection to his work, and his love for simple food shaped a life that stayed active and spirited until his final years.
