The year 1975 was a landmark in Bollywood, with blockbusters like “Sholay”, “Deewar”, “Dharam Karam”, “Zameer”, “Chupke Chupke”, “Khel Khel Mein”, “Rafuu Chakkar”, and “Chori Mera Kaam” hitting theaters. Amidst this cinematic frenzy, “Dharmatma” made waves with a kiss scene between Feroz Khan and Hema Malini that sparked controversy. Feroz Khan, as producer-director, was no stranger to pushing boundaries; his 1972 film “Apradh” had already caused a stir with a kiss on Mumtaz’s nose, boosting the film’s popularity.
A turbulent filming experience
The “Dharmatma” shoot was not without drama. Feroz Khan attempted to kiss Hema Malini, enraging her mother, who confronted him on set. The director’s actions left a lasting impact, with Hema Malini’s mother scolding him so severely that he remained visibly upset during the rest of the shoot. Before filming even began, Feroz Khan and Shammi Kapoor clashed at a party hosted by Raj Kapoor to promote his new film “Bobby”. The tension arose when Feroz Khan offered Shammi Kapoor a role in “Dharmatma” without prior discussion, leading to a physical altercation between the two. The situation was eventually diffused by Randhir Kapoor and Sanjay Khan.
An original concept inspired by “The Godfather”
“Dharmatma” drew inspiration from Mario Puzo’s novel “The Godfather” and Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation. At the time, social media was non-existent, and news spread slowly through newspapers and magazines. The connection between “The Godfather” and “Dharmatma” went largely unnoticed until much later. Feroz Khan initially wanted to cast Rajesh Khanna as the lead, Ranbir, but Khanna was riding high on his stardom and wasn’t interested. Meanwhile, Danny Denzongpa chose “Dharmatma” over “Sholay” due to the more substantial role offered in the former.
A groundbreaking shoot in Afghanistan
“Dharmatma” was the first Bollywood film to be shot in Afghanistan. The production team received full government support, and the Afghan government even broadcast their arrival on national television. Feroz Khan’s popularity in the Gulf region and Afghanistan contributed to the warm reception. The film featured two leading ladies: Hema Malini and Rekha. Hema Malini signed on for “Dharmatma” alongside “Sholay” because she felt her role in the latter was too small. Rekha stepped in after Zeenat Aman turned down the role.
Timeless music
The film’s soundtrack, featuring hits like “Tere Chahre Mein Woh Jaadu Hai” and “Kya Khoob Lagti Ho”, became an integral part of Bollywood’s musical heritage. The song “Tere Chahre Mein Woh Jaadu Hai” was born from a poem by Indivar, which Feroz Khan had heard casually and wanted to turn into a song. The film’s music composers, Kalyanji-Anandji, were thrilled with the idea, and the result was a timeless classic sung by Kishore Kumar.
A box office success
“Dharmatma” became the third-highest-grossing film of 1975, trailing behind “Sholay” and “Jai Santoshi Maa”. The film’s success solidified Hema Malini’s status as a top heroine and established Feroz Khan as a prominent director-producer in Bollywood. The top five films of that year – “Sholay”, “Jai Santoshi Maa”, “Dharmatma”, “Deewar”, and “Sanyasi” – featured Hema Malini in three of them, cementing her reign as the leading lady of Bollywood.