Dharmendra has long been regarded as one of the most handsome men to ever grace Hindi cinema, and many actresses over the years have openly admitted as much. Beyond his magnetic screen presence, he was equally charming off camera, often leaving a lasting impression on women. One such chapter that stirred great intrigue was his rumoured association with Meena Kumari.Meena Kumari, already a celebrated star, was then married to filmmaker Kamal Amrohi, who was significantly older than her—but their marriage was going through a rough phase. During that time, the ‘Pakeezah’ star was said to have found emotional support and comfort in Dharmendra’s companionship. He was still a newcomer, and reportedly, Meena Kumari often recommended him to producers and directors because she genuinely believed in his potential.Dharmendra once addressed this bond on ‘Aap Ki Adalat’, saying, “It wasn’t love, I was her fan. As a fan, I would just keep looking at her. If you call the relationship between a fan and a star love, then call it love.”In an old interview, when asked whether Kamal Amrohi had left him out of ‘Pakeezah’ due to Meena Kumari’s presence, Dharmendra reacted with characteristic confidence, saying, “People are jealous of me, man.” He further reiterated, “I was not in love with Meena Kumari. She was a huge star and I was her fan. If you call the relationship between a fan and a star as love, then consider it as love.”Eventually, Kamal Amrohi did cast Dharmendra in ‘Razia Sultan’, where he played Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut, a slave, opposite Hema Malini who portrayed Empress Razia. For authenticity, Kamal insisted that Dharmendra be painted entirely in black, and he had to endure hours under the scorching desert sun, bare-backed, while the colour melted on his skin. While many admired Kamal’s pursuit of perfection, those close to the situation at the time believed it may have also been his subtle way of settling old scores.
