The recent news of the passing of the iconic Dharmendra, Bollywood’s beloved ‘He-Man,’ at the age of 89, brings to light a less-discussed aspect of his illustrious life: his political career. While his acting prowess is legendary, his time as a Member of Parliament for Bikaner, Rajasthan, offers an intriguing look into his public service chapter, marked by an electoral victory in 2004 and later facing public criticism.
Dharmendra ventured into the political landscape by contesting from the Bikaner Lok Sabha constituency in Rajasthan, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The election campaign saw significant support from his actor sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, who rallied voters on his behalf. In his debut election, Dharmendra achieved a resounding victory, defeating the Congress candidate Rameshwar Lal Dudi by a considerable margin of 57,000 votes. This win positioned him as a prominent figure in parliamentary politics.
However, his tenure as an MP was not smooth sailing. A year after his election, the Bikaner constituency saw the emergence of ‘missing’ posters depicting Dharmendra. This was a clear indication of public dissatisfaction, fueled by the actor’s infrequent visits to his constituency. The posters symbolized the disconnect felt by the residents, who felt their elected representative was not adequately present or engaged.
In response to the growing public sentiment, Dharmendra made a conscious effort to bridge the gap. He visited Bikaner, choosing to stay at the Circuit House and interact directly with the public without excessive security. During this period, he also championed the restoration of the historic Sursagar lake in Bikaner. He actively lobbied the then-Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and sought financial assistance from the central government to fund the restoration project. However, the public largely credited the Chief Minister for the Sursagar’s revival, overshadowing Dharmendra’s instrumental role.
Ultimately, Dharmendra found the world of politics to be a challenging environment. He chose not to contest the 2009 general elections, marking the end of his parliamentary career. He decided to step away from politics permanently, returning to his thriving film career and personal life in Mumbai. His wife, Hema Malini, and son, Sunny Deol, have maintained political involvements, but Dharmendra himself remained committed to his decision to leave politics, feeling it was not the right arena for him.