After Dharmendra watched an audio-visual made on him by Shashi and Anu Ranjan on stage, he took his seat on the front row and asked, “What did you think of me in those old films you just saw in the A-V?” I saw what Hema saw in you, I whispered back. That pleased Dharam as he quizzed, “Did you see my film Yamla Pagla Deewana? What did you think of it?”

We were at industrialist-cum-Congress-I politician T. Subbarami Reddy’s awards function in Hyderabad where Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Jaya Prada and Juhi Chawla were honoured along with Banjara and Jubilee Hills biggies like Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna.

It was that heady mix so popular these days where famous screen faces are also the glamour elements dazzling our Parliament. On stage there was Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi (who expediently merged his party with the Congress for the hustings), there was the MP from Patna Shatrughan Sinha (still with the BJP even as he heaps praise on Sonia and Rahul Gandhi), there was veteran Mohan Babu (Chandrababu Naidu’s cousin who supports controversial opponent Jagan), Jaya Prada (who shifted loyalties from Chandrababu Naidu to Amar Singh) and Andhra Pradesh film star Vijayashanthi (once with the BJP, she raised a ‘Jai Telangana’ slogan rather inappropriately at the function).

Watching them all was Dharmendra who had once thrown his Jat might behind the BJP but has lately decided to be stand-offish about politics. “I hate politics,” he swore under his breath. “Even when I gave my speeches, it was always from the heart, never political.” He’s fine with partner Hema Malini doing her stuff for the BJP while he keeps his distance from the arena.

Somewhat like Amitabh Bachchan who steadfastly stays away from aligning himself with any particular party even if his wife is open about her ‘now Amar, now Mulayam’ politics.

Dharmendra has accepted that he is too blissful playing Hindi film star to covet any other space. “I’m an emotional man,” is his favourite self-description. “I thrive on love, I survive on love and affection. All I want is love from everybody. Main mohabbat ka lootera hoon!” said Dharmendra, who loves his place in the limelight. To be fair to Dharam, he is truly a people’s person because when fans crowd him, he’s never impatient or nasty. And believe me, Shatrughan Sinha and he were mobbed every time they took a step away from their seats.

Dharam is still the quintessential 70s star. He travels with his coterie around him, they stay at the hotel with him, fall in step with him the minute he awakes and keep vigil till bedtime. They go to functions with him and they go back to his room to play cards till the actor is ready to hit the sack. It was the same routine in Hyderabad and Dharam continued to be the people-loving film star even on the flight back to Mumbai.

Tucking into methi chicken at the airport lounge (the flight was delayed), served to him by his coterie and by a fawning airline staff, Dharam happily posed with fans and spoke politely to each. “I love people, they are so full of love and affection,” he repeated intermittently, flush with the attention. Chicken sandwiches, not on the buffet, were magically produced for Shatrughan. On the flight too, the crew showered extra care on him and Shatrughan Sinha, with one male staffer crouching beside Dharam’s seat every time he spoke to him.

Okay, they are film stars and they get special attention everywhere but you’ve got to be with them to believe just how different it is for them. Dharam is a little more concerned about punctuality, so he was at the airport well on time for his flight. Shatrughan Sinha is an MP and his entourage ensures that he gets the privileges he’s entitled to. Of course, he’s unfailingly nice to every staffer who comes up to him, even remembering their names if he’s met them before. He leaves behind a trail of wide, happy grins right from the security guard at the entrance.

“Late as always,” laughed Dharam, watching Shatru stroll in leisurely. “I’m sure he kept his family waiting too when he arrived in the world. After a lot of waiting and cajoling he must’ve come out of the womb exclaiming, khamosh!” Dharam affectionately joked about his colleague and friend. Quick on the draw, Shatru promptly quipped, “Of course I arrived late, that’s why I am Shatrughan. If I’d been early, I’d have been Ram!”

Travelling with firm friends and Sagittarians Dharmendra (December 8) and Shatrughan Sinha (December 9) is an in-flight entertainment by itself.

Bharathi S. Pradhan is editor, The Film Street Journal