"Turned, Looked, and Wham!" – When Dharmendra Slapped a Man in the Lift Who Doubted His Identity

Dharmendra isn’t just known as the original He-Man of Bollywood—his physique, fearless attitude, and real-life swag have become legends in themselves. From action-packed films to intense real-life confrontations, Dharam Paaji never shied away from speaking with his fists when needed.

And if you think that was only on-screen, comedian Johnny Lever recently shared a story that proves just how real Dharmendra’s tough-guy persona was.

"He Was the Same Off-Screen as On"

In an interview with YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps), Johnny Lever was asked whether there used to be "dadagiri" (bullying) in the film industry. Johnny replied instantly, “Why not? Especially people like Dharmendra. He was never afraid of anyone. Very grounded, but a lion-hearted man. Just like his reel image.”

“Is He Really Dharmendra?” — The Lift Incident

Johnny then recalled a wild incident involving Dharmendra. As per the story, Dharmendra was once in a lift with another man who kept staring at him and doubting if he really was the famous superstar.

The man reportedly said: “Yeh Dharmendra hai? Nahi lagta yaar, mujhe yakeen nahi ho raha.”

He repeated this a couple of times. Dharmendra didn’t respond initially. But when the man said it again...

“Dharam Paaji didn’t say a word. He just turned and gave him one tight slap and said—‘Ab vishwas hua?’ (Now do you believe?)”

Jat Blood and Real-Life Action

Johnny described Dharmendra as a man who didn’t tolerate disrespect. “He’s a Jat. What he feels, he shows. No filter, no delay. We’ve seen him in that raw form—honest, proud, and ready to strike when needed.”