The Great Romantic Heroes of Bollywood

Starting from the black and white era to the present digital era, the romance has blossomed. As the generation changes the new actors take the throne of the king of romance. Shahrukh Khan is called as King of Romance but the original King was Dev Anand followed by Rajesh Khanna. Over the years, a number of Chocolate Heroes or Romantic heroes have emerged on the silver screen giving the cine-goers a feel of romance.
 Here are the great Romantic Heroes of Bollywood.
The first in my List is
Dev Anand.

Dev Anand gave us many romantic hits. Some of the great such films are Afsar(1950), Sanam(1951) both with Suraiya. Later Munimji 1955 was his a hit film. Another hit romantic movie was Paying Guest in 1957 with Nutan. Both of them have a great romantic film Tere Ghar Ke Samne in 1963.
With Waheeda Rehman Dev Anand gave Guide in 1965 and Prem Pujari 1970. Some of the great romantic films with other heroines are Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai 1961,  Hum Dono 1961,Maya 1961,  Asli Naqli 1962. Love Marriage 1959, Teen Deviyan 1965.

Song of Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Rajesh Khanna

With romantic films like ‘Aradhana’, ‘Amar Prem’, ‘Daag’, ‘Mere Jeevan Saathi’ and ‘Aap Ki Kasam’ to name a few, Rajesh Khanna was one of the most iconic romantic actors of his time. He pulled off his lover boy image with ease and that wasn’t restricted to reel life only. Khanna had women swooning over him and if stories are anything to go by, it is said that girls used to send him love letters written in their own blood!

Song of Aradhana 1969

Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor began his career in a lead role with his father’s ‘Bobby’, started out as a romantic hero. With less violence and much romance in his long list of films like ‘Saagar’, ‘Chandni’, ‘Prem Rog’, ‘Yeh Vaada Raha’, ‘Laila Majnu’ 'Kabhie Kabhie'etc, Rishi Kapoor, too, belonged to the new breed of young romantic actors from the late 80s.

Song of Bobby 1973

Shahrukh Khan

 He made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with Deewana. Early in his career, Khan was recognised for portraying villainous roles in the films Darr (1993), Baazigar (1993) and Anjaam (1994). He then rose to prominence after starring in a series of romantic films, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001).

Song of DDLJ 1995

  Shashi Kapoor

 Raj Kapoor’s younger brother entered the film industry when his eldest brother had a successful stint in acting and had turned to direction. With movies like ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’, 'Haseena Maan Jayegi;‘Kabhi Kabhie’ and ‘Sharmeelee’, Shashi Kapoor, set an image of a romantic actor and the audiences loved him in such roles too.

Song of Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

Aamir Khan

Mr Perfectionist entered into Bollywood as a chocolate-hero in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and had sustained likewise in several films to follow—from Love, Love, Love, Dil, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin,  Raja Hindustani, Ishq. Now, no matter how much of a social activist he becomes, tearing off the garb of a chocolate-hero is just impossible! 

Song of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak 1989

Ranbir Kapoor

Ranbir Kapoor is steadily climbing the ladder to becoming the king of the romance of today’s times. His films like ‘Rockstar’, ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, ‘Saawariya’, ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ and the rest prove – like father, like son!

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Raj Kapoor

Raj Kapoor (1924-1988) perfected a screen image of a lovable, Chaplin-like tramp with roles that often saw him playing an innocent lad in an unjust society, His pairing with Nargis gave us some of the iconic films.

Song of Shree 420  (1955)

50 years of the release of SUNGHARSH

Five decades ago, another superstar took on the part of a thug in director Harnam Singh Rawail’s rather successful venture, Sunghursh (1968). That was Dilip Kumar, he gives a stirring performance, the real delight is when he breaks into a folk dance “Mere Pairon Mein Ghungroo Bandh De Aur Phir Meri Chaal Dekh Le”.   

The movie was released on 01 July 1968. The movie is directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and featured Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala and Balraj Sahni as lead characters. A most surprising find of the movie was Sanjeev Kumar. His performance of negative role shot to fame. He was commended for his role while a newcomer as compared with established actors like Dilip Kumar and Balraj Sahni 

Set in Varanasi, this fast-paced film talks of thugs, the expert killers who were a terror in Northern India in the 19th Century. They used to rob the pilgrims by hook or crook. Adapted from a Mahasweta Devi work, director H.S. Rawail addresses the loot that goes on at pilgrim centres in the name of faith. How the practice of sacrifice is misused for personal gains and how men compromise love for spiritual virtues – issues that are a relevant event today…issues that our films generally talk of only in hushed tones.
It is said H S Rawail the director of the film wanted Sadhna to be the heroine in this film but she was not available because of her illness. Eventually, Rawail signed Vyjayanthimala for the role. Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala who had worked together for Naya Daur (1957) and Ganga Jamuna were then said to have a romantic affair. The actors parted after Vyjayanthimala worked with Raj Kapoor in the 1964 Hindi film Sangam. Thus, most of the scenes between the two actors for Sungharsh were shot separately.Sungharsh was the last film where Kumar and Vyjayanthimala worked together.

The music for all the songs is composed by Naushad and the lyrics are written by Shakeel Badayuni. The film's soundtrack has seven songs sung by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar with one song sung by Asha Bhosle. All are solo songs where Naushad used the music from the regions of Awadh and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Song of Sungharsh 1968

Song of Sungharsh 1968

Song of Sungharsh 1968

Song of Sungharsh 1968

Raj Kapoor- The fascination of seeing his heroines wearing a white saree

Raj Kapoor(14 Dec 1924), who was one of the greatest and most successful directors who started at a young age of 24 and also one of the best actors in the history of Indian cinema. He was a pioneer in making Hindi cinema bolder, by making his heroine show off their beauty on the silver screen. He had a fascination of seeing his heroines wearing a white saree in at least one scene in his films.
One may recall the white-saree clad heroines of RK Films as Nargis in Awara, Padmini in Mera Naam Joker, Vyjayanthimala in Sangam, Zeenat Aman in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Mandakini in Ram Teri Ganga Mail and also Padmini Kolhapure in Premrog. His ‘woman in white’ fascination can be traced from his wife Krishna. It started before he marrying Krishna. It is said that Raj Kapoor once saw Krishna a young girl in a white saree with mogas in her hair, playing the sitar. That was the time when Krishna taking music lessons. Being an artiste, he reacted to the visual. He was reminded of Goddess Saraswati. The image of the ‘lady in white’ stayed in his mind and was later seen in his films.If you recall Krishna, his wife always wore white and had a flower in her hair.

Very few know that Nargis who was Raj Kapoor's heroine in Barsaat 1949 and Awara 1951  was dubbed as the Lady in White, given her penchant for white sarees. “She wore only cotton and organza with a little embroidery.
Raj Kapoor the person was not very different from the personality. A flair for flamboyance was the hallmark 

Song of Awara 1951

Song of Satyam Shivam Sundaram 1978

Song of Prem Rog 1982

Song of Ram Teri Ganga Meli 1985

It was Devika Rani who gave Kohinoor to Bollywood

Devika Rani who is also known as The First Lady of Bollywood gave us a Kohinoor in the form of Dalip Kumar. It happened when Dilip Kumar aka Yusuf Khan first arrived from Poona in Bombay looking for a job, he met Dr Masani at Churchgate station. The psychologist knew Khan from a lecture he had delivered at Wilson College where the young man had been a student.
Dr Masani introduced Yusuf Khan to Devika Rani who was the owner of Bombay Talkies. Devika Rani asked him if he knew Urdu; Khan did, as he was born and brought up in Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province. Devika Rani then offered him an opportunity to become an actor with the studio for a princely monthly salary of Rs1,250. It was Devika Rani who christened Dilip Kumar. The first film of Dilip Saheb was Jwar Bhata released in 1944 was directed by Amiya Chakrabarti.

Still from Jwar Bhata 1944

Besides grooming him for a career in front of the camera, Devika Rani also helped shape Dilip Kumar's acting and performances, encouraging him to watch Hollywood and foreign films and look for inspiration within himself to improve with each film that he did.
Unfortunately, Jwar Bhata did not fare well at the box office. Yet his talent did not go unnoticed and following India’s independence and partition, Dilip Kumar would go onto make his mark in Hindi cinema. 

Still from Jugnu 1947

However, it was the actor’s fourth film, Jugnu (1947), starring Noor Jehan and Shashikala in important roles, that became his first major hit, and got him noticed. The actor received many movies after this film.  

Dilip Kumar in Andaz.1949

One of the films which elevated him to superstardom was Mehboob Khan’s Andaz (1949) with Raj Kapoor.A story revolving around a love triangle, interspersed with drama and tragedy The film saw him paired opposite Nargis. The film became an instant hit at the box office and enabled Dilip Kumar to establish himself as one of the reigning figures of the Indian film industry.
He had a number of big films in the 1950s. Among his most notable films were Hulchul (1951), Deedar (1951), Daag (1952) and Devdas (1955). Dilip Kumar became the first actor to win the Filmfare Best Actor Award for Daag. He went on to win the award seven times.  His performance as the heartbroken Devdas in Devdas, among other roles, sealed his image as the Tragedy King of Indian cinema. However, he tried to shed this image by taking up lighter roles in films such as Aan (1952), Azaad (1955), Naya Daur (1957), Madhumati (1958), Mughal e Azam (1960) and Kohinoor (1960).
In 1961, Kumar produced and starred in Ganga Jamuna opposite his frequent leading lady Vyjayanthimala and his brother Nasir Khan, this was the only film he produced.His next film Leader (1964) was a below average grosser at the box office.He was the co-director alongside Abdul Rashid Kardar of his next release Dil Diya Dard Liya in 1966 but was uncredited as director. In 1967, Kumar played a dual role of twins separated at birth in the hit film Ram Aur Shyam. In 1968, he starred alongside Manoj Kumar and Waheeda Rehman in Aadmi. That same year he starred in Sangharsh with Sanjeev Kumar.
His career slumped in the 1970s with films like Dastaan (1972) failing at the box office. He starred alongside his real-life wife Saira Banu in Gopi (1970) which was a success. But again in 1974 his film Sagina and Bairag in 1976 failed as a hero.
In 1976, Dilip Kumar took a five-year break from film performances and returned with a character role in the film Kranti (1981) and continued his career playing leading roles in films such as Shakti (1982), Karma (1986) and Saudagar (1991). His last film was Qila (1998).He has won ten Filmfare Awards and is the first recipient of the Filmfare Best Actor Award (1954). He was given Dada Saheb falke award in 1994. The Government of India honoured Kumar with the Padma Bhushan in 1991, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015. The Government of Pakistan conferred Kumar with Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the highest civilian award in Pakistan, in 1998.
My Fav Dilip Kumar's Songs

Song of Mela 1948

Song of Andaz, 1949

Song of Arzoo 1950

Song of Deedar 1951

Song of Sangdil 1952

Song of Footpath 1953

Song of Azaad 1955

Song of Naya Daur, 1957

Song of Madhumati, 1958

Song of Kohinoor, 1960

Song of Ganga Jamuna, 1961

Song of Leader, 1964

Shatrughan Sinha- The Chhainu of Mere Apne

Shatrughan Sinha  (9 December 1945) who made his debut from 1969 film Saajan is in his 50th year in Bollywood. He was first signed by Dev Anand for Prem Pujari in a very small role of a Pakistani soldier but the film was released later.
He earned his stardom with Gulzar's Mere Apne (1971). As the rough-edged street don Chhainu, who hates rival Vinod Khanna's guts, Shatrughan's impact was raw but powerful. His dialogue from Mere Apne "Shyaam Aaye to Keh Dena ki Chenu Aaya Tha " attracted the Bollywood lovers. His deep baritone, his style and his fiery eyes everything made him the darling of masses.

He became the only villain in Bollywood who received claps from the audience when he beats the Hero. Mere Apne won Shatrughan Sinha labels like Wonder Boy and Wonder Villain. His career steamed full throttle and Sinha happily blustered his way in viperous roles in films like Rampur Ka Lakshman, Bhai Ho To Aisa and Heera.
As the rough-edged street don Chhainu, who hates rival Vinod Khanna's guts, Shatrughan's impact was raw but powerful. He amplified his hearty voice to the full. Costar Meena Kumari complimented him on his ability to deliver dialogues without pausing at the expected moments. 
Mere Apne was released during a year that was enriched by films like Anand, Amar Prem, Guddi, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Tere Mere Sapne, Caravan, Buddha Mil Gaya. No awards came Mere Apne’s way but it remains a timeless classic for its realistic depiction of social issues.
After the role of Chhainu and its dialogues, Shatrughan Sinha became a craze among masses. As proof of his burgeoning popularity, Manmohan Desai was forced to heed his distributors and include a reformation scene in Bhai Ho To Aisa (1972). The public could no longer accept Sinha as an all-black villain. Sinha's style -- in the midst of an action-packed fight, he would take time off to check out if his watch was working -- suddenly made most villains look like they belonged to the age of the Flintstones.

Dialogue of Mere Apne

Song of Sabak 1973

Song of Blackmail 1973

Song of Badlaa 1974

Song of Dost 1974

Song of Aadmi Sadak Ka 1977

Song of Dostana 1980

Sharmila Tagore-The 60s stunner turns 74 today

.Every Indian who's sighed over Sharmila Tagore's dimples, drowned in that Kashmir ki Kali smile, seduced by her bikini babe image of An Evening In Paris, and then cried with her in Amar Prem and Mausam.
She's still as charming as ever, the mother of current heartthrob Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan. The mother of two actors and a designer is also a grandmother of Saif and Kareena's son Taimur.

She was born on 8th December 1944 in Kanpur. She is distantly related to the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.She began her career as an actress in Satyajit Ray's 1959 Bengali film Apur Sansar (The World of Apu), as the ill-fated bride of the title character. She made her debut in Hindi films with Shakti Samanta's Kashmir Ki Kali in 1964. Samanta later cast her in many more films, including An Evening in Paris (1967), in which she became the first Indian actress to appear in a bikini and with Rajesh Khanna for movies such as Aradhana (1969) and Amar Prem (1972). Other directors paired them together in Safar (1970), Daag (1973), and Maalik (1972). The pair of Khanna-Sharmila gave 7 box office hits – Aradhana, Safar, Amar Prem, Chhoti Bahu, Daag, "Raja Rani" and Avishkaar.

She starred in Gulzar's 1975 film, Mausam and won the National Film Award for Best Actress. She also played a supporting role in Mira Nair's 1991 film Mississippi Masala. She was the highest paid Bollywood actress from 1970 to 1976 along with Mumtaz. She had a very successful pairing opposite Dharmendra, along with whom she starred in seven movies - Devar (1966), Anupama (1966), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968), Satyakam (1969), Yakeen (1969), Chupke Chupke (1975), Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka (1975) and Sunny(1984). Her filmography also includes Faraar (1975) opposite Amitabh Bachchan; Mausam (1975) and Besharam (1978) opposite Sanjeev Kumar; and Bengalifilm Mangaldeep (1991) opposite Naseeruddin Shah. In 2017.

Sharmila Tagore married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi and former captain of the Indian cricket team, in a Nikah ceremony held on 27 December 1969. She converted to Islam upon marriage and changed her name to Begum Ayesha Sultana Khan. They had three children: Saif Ali Khan (b. 1970), a Bollywood actor, Saba Ali Khan (b. 1976), a jewellery designer, and Soha Ali Khan 

She has received two National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards for her performances. She led the Indian Film Censor Board from October 2004 till March 2011. She was awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

Song of Kashmir Ki Kali 1964

Song of Anupama 1966

Song of An Evening in Paris 1967

Song of Talash 1969

Song of Aradhana 1969

Song of Safar 1970

Song of  Mausam 1975

Song of  Chupke Chupke 1975

Dharmendra -More than just a fine-looking man

Dharmendra has been ruling hearts for nearly 60 years now. The legendary superstar debuted with the film titled ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’ in the year 1960. Became popular with Phool Aur Patthar(1966). Since then he has been continuously contributing to the Indian Film Industry by donning multiple hats. 
The smitten audience dotingly showered him with nicknames like “Action King” and “He-Man” majorly for his super hit roles in action movies. People were hooked to his fighting scenes. Dharmendra has bagged multiple hits on the box office, but one of the most loved movies of his is “Sholay” which was released in 1975.
Dharmendra was born on 8th Dec 1935 as  Dharam Singh Deol of Nasrali, a small village not far from the main city of Ludhiana, Punjab. Kewal Kishan Singh and Satwant Kaur were his proud parents and belonged to the Jat Sikh community. 

Dharmendra went on to star in a number of action films between 1976–84, including Dharam Veer, Charas, Azaad, Katilon Ke Kaatil, Ghazab, Rajput, Bhagawat, Jaani Dost, Dharm Aur Qanoon, Main Intequam Loonga, Jeene Nahi Doonga, Hukumat and Raaj Tilak.He worked with Jeetendra in Dharmveer, Samraat, Burning Train,Jaan Hatheli Pe, Kinara, Dharam Karma, Nafrat Ki Aandhi.He also played con man or as gangster in Shalimar, Qayamat, Jaan Hatheli Pe, Jhuta Sach, Sitamgar, Professor Pyarelal and Phandebaaz.
He has worked with various directors, each with a different style of film-making. His longest collaboration was with director Arjun Hingorani from 1960-91. Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere was the debut film of Dharmendra as an actor and Arjun's first directorial venture with Dharmendra as the lead hero. They worked together in Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Kahani Kismat Ki, Khel Khilari Ka, Katilon Ke Kaatiland Kaun Kare Kurbanie where Arjun Hingorani was the producer and the director, and Sultanat and Karishma Kudrat Kaa, produced by Arjun Hingorani. He worked with director Pramod Chakravorty in Naya Zamana, Dream Girl, Azaad and Jugnu. Dharmendra has played dual roles in many films such as Yakeen (1969) as both the hero and the villain, Samadhi (1972) as father and son, Ghazab (1982) as twin brothers, the unrelated identical person in Jhuta Sachch and Jeeo Shaan Se (1997) in triple roles.

Dharmendra's career seemed to have discovered a magical elixir -- Hema Malini. The Dharam-Hema pair resulted in seven straight successes -- Sharafat, Tum Haseen Main Jawan, Naya Zamana, Raja Rani, Seeta Aur Geeta, Jugnu and Dost. Rumours of their off-screen love affair fuelled their on-screen draw.
He experimented with film production; he launched both of his sons in films: Sunny Deol in Betaab (1983) and Bobby Deol in Barsaat (1995) as well as his nephew Abhay Deol in Socha Na Tha (2005). He was the presenter for his films like Satyakam (1969) and Kab Kyun Aur Kahan (1970). In one of her interviews, actress Preity Zinta has been quoted as saying that Dharmendra is her favourite actor. She recommended him to play her father's role in Har Pal (2008)

Dharmendra's first marriage was to Parkash Kaur at the age of 19 in 1954. From his first marriage, he has two sons, Sunny and Bobby, successful actors, and two daughters, Vijeeta and Ajeeta. He has four grandsons.
Dharmendra also wed Hema Malini after allegedly converting to Islam to stay married to his first wife without having to get a divorce. The couple has two daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.
He was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India, representing Bikaner constituency in Rajasthan from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2012, he was awarded India's third-highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

Song of Shola Aur Shabnam (1961) .

Song of Soorat Aur Seerat (1962)

Song of Anupama (1966) 

Song of Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966)

Song of Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968)

Song of Black Mail (1973)

Song of Kahani Kismat Ki  1973

Song of Dost (1974)

Song of Pratigya (1975) 

Song of Sholay (1975)

Song of Chupke Chupke 1975

Dharmendra's Landmark Films
Year	Film	Actress
1964	Haqeequat	Priya Rajvansh
1966	Phool Aur Patthar	Meena Kumari
1966	Anupama	Sharmila Tagore
1968	Aankhen	Mala Sinha
1969	Satyakam	Sharmila Tagore
1971	Mera Gaon Mera Desh	Asha Parekh
1973	Jugnu	Hema Malini
1973	Yaadon Ki Baraat	--
1975	Sholay	Hema Malini
1975	Chupke Chupke	Sharmila Tagore
1977	Dharam Veer	Zeenat Aman