Satyajeet Puri Says Dharmendra Once Threatened the Underworld: “Don’t Mess With Me”

Veteran actor-director Satyajeet Puri has recounted a striking anecdote from Bollywood's turbulent 1980s, praising Dharmendra's unflinching defiance against the underworld's grip on the industry. In an interview with Friday Talkies on October 28, 2025, Puri described how Dharmendra, then at the peak of his stardom, rebuffed threats by invoking his vast support from Punjab. "If you come, the whole Sahnewal will come from Punjab. You have 10 people, but I have an army. One word from me and trucks full of people will come from Punjab to fight. "Don't mess with me," Puri quoted the icon as saying. This bold stance, according to Puri, ensured the mafia never targeted Dharmendra or his family, setting him apart in an era when many actors succumbed to intimidation.

The underworld's influence peaked in the 1980s and 1990s, with extortion rackets, funding disputes, and forced collaborations plaguing Hindi cinema. Figures like Dawood Ibrahim allegedly controlled film financing and distribution, coercing stars through anonymous calls and violence. Puri, who collaborated with Dharmendra in films such as Rajput (1982), Betaab (1983), Taqdeer Ka Badshah (1982), Batwara (1989), and Izzatdaar (1990), highlighted He-Man’s fearlessness as exceptional. As the son of actor Satyen Puri and a child artist turned multifaceted filmmaker, Satyajeet witnessed the industry's dark undercurrents firsthand, making his testimony a valuable glimpse into that perilous chapter.

Dharmendra's legacy of resilience extends beyond anecdotes; his career spans over six decades, from action-packed roles in Sholay (1975) to recent cameos in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024) alongside Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon and a prominent return in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) with Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. At 89, the actor remains active, set to reunite with director Sriram Raghavan for the war biopic Ikkis, portraying the father of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee from the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The film, slated for December 2025, underscores Dharmendra's enduring appeal and commitment to meaningful cinema.

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Puri's revelation resonates amid ongoing discussions about Bollywood's evolution from mafia shadows to corporate governance, with streaming platforms and global funding reducing such vulnerabilities. Dharmendra's "army" metaphor symbolises not just personal courage but the protective networks rural-rooted stars cultivated. As younger generations navigate fame, stories like these serve as reminders of the grit that defined Hindi cinema's golden yet gritty era.

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