He was fascinated with three Ks. For Arjun Hingorani, it was supposed to be the Key to success. But not always. “Kab? Kyon? Aur Kahan” set the trend and was followed by “Kahani Kismat Ki”, “Khel Khilari Ka” and “Katilon Ka Kaatil”. With the exception of “Kab? Kyon? Aur Kahan” and “Kahani Kismat Ki”, the rest sank without a trace.
Romance was the preferred theme when “Kahani Kismat Ki” (KKK) hit the screens but this was a hotchpotch stuff where the plot ambled along on the slender thread of suspense towards the end. The versatile Dharmendra was the star attraction. His range was so prominently visible in KKK where he played the thief, wrestler, doting son, passionate lover and the perfect hero who would bash up an army of goons. Adept at playing such roles with comfort, Dharmendra obviously dominated KKK with Rekha as his partner, looking ravishing in her part as the daughter of a businessman.
It was not one of Dharmendra’s best films. Hard to imagine the same man delivered such contrasting performances in “Anupama”, “Naya Zamana”, “Satyakam” and “Chupke Chupke”, where he did not have to flex his muscles to win the hearts of his fans. KKK was a typical plot where a good natured thief is reformed before being engulfed by the criminal world one last time. A murder then lands him in prison before the real culprit is apprehended. So typical of Hindi cinema where one could predict the climax.
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Dharmendra, said to be the most kind-hearted person in the film industry, was also known to be liberal when accepting film offers. Often he would consent because of a soft corner for the needy producer or director. He never shied from lending support to first-time actors, directors and producers with his special appearances that would wean his die-hard followers to cinema halls.
He was the iron man of Hindi cinema but revelled in comedy and romance. Ironically awards did not match his contribution to Indian cinema and that was the reason why he did not fade away from the screen. He never worked to earn awards. His recognition came from his fans who would endure a two-hour ordeal just to catch a glimpse of Dharam Paaji in one of his special appearances. Those fleeting images of Dharmendra on the screen would confirm his awesome popularity with the masses. He was at ease playing the idealist in “Satyakam” and an upright law enforcer in “Policewala Gunda”.
The spark that Dharmendra generated on the screen would light up the atmosphere even if the plot did not appeal. True, he formed a successful pair with Hema Malini but he was equally comfortable with the rest, from Meena Kumari, Tanuja, Mala Sinha, Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore to Rekha, Jayalalitha, Vyjyanthimala, Mumtaz, Saira Banu, Dimple Kapadia, Sridevi, Anita Raaj. The respect he commanded was unmatched. If only Dharmendra had planned his exit well instead of working in some B-grade projects during the concluding phase of his career.
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KKK was a thriller. Dharmendra plays Ajit, who takes to stealing to support his parents and sister. Law catches up with his wayward life and two years of imprisonment reform him. On his release, he is employed by Premchand, played convincingly by veteran actor Ajit, who has acquired the wealth by presenting a child as the long-lost daughter of a wealthy businessman. The child grows into Rekha, who in turn falls for the dapper Ajit.
Ajit professes his love for Rekha in a public platform, on a crane to be precise, the scene shot at Flora Fountain in busy Bombay. The song – “Rata Rafta Dekho Aankh Meri Ladi Hai” – was a highlight of the movie. The story moves along on predictable lines. Premchand has a dark past. He is blackmailed by Karamchand (Arjun Hingorani), who knows the contrived relationship between Premchand and Rekha. The scheming Karamchand is murdered and Ajit is implicated. He is rescued at the brink of being hanged, thanks to the work of his pet dog, which locates the film roll that documents the sequence of the murder and exposes the culprit.
Arjun Hingorani, while making a cameo appearance, maintained the pace of the movie thanks to Dharmendra, who carried himself so effortlessly with Rekha as company. She was indeed delightful with a charming face that left a generation of movie goers in a trance. Her appeal has not at all diminished with time.