Dharmendra reveals Salman's inspiration for 'Dabangg' lead role

Mumbai: Veteran actor Dharmendra recently shared an interesting revelation on Twitter, stating that Salman Khan drew inspiration from his 1975 film Pratiggya for his iconic character, Chulbul Pandey, in the blockbuster movie Dabangg.

Responding to a fan's comment, Dharmendra confirmed that Salman had informed him about basing his character on Dharmendra's role in Pratiggya.

Yes dear, even Salman told me that he was very much inspired by that character of mine . Friends, it happens i wanted to play Dalip Sahab’s role (Devdas and Salim in Mughal e Aazim ) Following Dreams is everyone’s dream 🙏.

— Dharmendra Deol (@aapkadharam) May 20, 2023

In Pratiggya, Dharmendra portrayed a police officer seeking vengeance for his parents' murder, while also incorporating comedic elements.

The film's popular track, "Main Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana," is closely associated with Dharmendra's image. Pratiggya shares the action-comedy genre with Dabangg, directed by Abhinav Kashyap.

Dabangg, known for its morally ambiguous protagonist Chulbul Pandey, who is often referred to as 'Robin Hood' Pandey, follows a similar formula to Pratiggya.

Dharmendra, who recently shared a clip from Pratiggya on social media, expressed his gratitude to the fan for pointing out the connection between the two characters.

He also conveyed Salman's acknowledgment of the inspiration and mentioned his own desire to play roles like those of the legendary actors Dalip Kumar and Prithviraj Kapoor.

At the age of 87, Dharmendra continues to entertain audiences and is set to appear in Karan Johar's upcoming film Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, alongside Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi.

Additionally, he has a significant role in an untitled romantic comedy featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, directed by Amit Joshi.