Mumbai, November 11, 2025 - Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra recently reminisced about his early days of struggle in Mumbai, revealing that he lived in a garage and worked at a drilling firm to make ends meet. The actor shared these memories on the set of the singing reality show Indian Idol 11 in 2020, after contestants performed "Kal Ki Haseen Mulaqat Ke Liye," a song from his 1976 film Charas.

Dharmendra, a popular face among fans, recalled his initial days in Mumbai, "In my earlier days, I used to live in a garage because I didn't have a proper home in Mumbai". He further added, "To survive in Mumbai, I worked in a drilling firm where I was paid Rs 200, and to earn some extra money I used to do overtime".

The actor, who hails from Punjab, also shared an emotional moment on another reality show, Superstar Singer, where a video depicting his journey was played. Overwhelmed with emotion, Dharmendra spoke about a bridge that held significance in his life. "This is where I dreamt of coming to showbiz," he said. "Even today, whenever I visit that bridge, I say, 'Dharmendra, you became an actor!'". He further expressed his deep connection to his village, stating that he is attached to the soil and that he is an emotional person.

Dharmendra was a top star in the seventies and eighties, with memorable films like Phool Aur Patthar, Anupama, Seeta Aur Geeta, and Sholay to his credit. The recipient of the Padma Bhushan has also produced films like Ghayal and Yamla Pagla Deewana 2.

His grandson, Karan Deol, made his Bollywood debut last year, with Dharmendra lending his support at the trailer launch. When asked what habit he wouldn't want to pass on to Karan, Dharmendra laughingly said, "Bas daru na peeye" ("He should not drink").