He may be 71 today, but he is still as dashing and imposing as he was at the peak of his long and glittering career. Few Hindi film stars come even close to the actor-turned-MP, when it comes to charisma and popularity. It was clear as ever during Dharmendra [Images]'s week-long stay at Rajkot for the shoot of Anil Sharma's new film Apne, along with sons Sunny and Bobby Deol [Images] besides actresses like Shilpa Shetty [Images] and Katrina Kaif [Images].

Haresh Pandya caught up with the star on the sets. Excerpts: 

Your looks and personality defy your age. What's the secret of your fitness?

I'm not an athlete. I think the love of the people and my capacity to love them back has much to do with my sound health. I'm a contented man and that probably reflects in my personality.

How do you look back at your phenomenal career?

As I said, I'm a very happy man. I've worked in over 300 films. Many of them have been silver and golden jubilee hits. I've played all sorts of roles and avoided being typecast. I think I've proven my ability as an actor. I've got an interesting part in Apne too.

To whom do you give credit for what you're today?

I give all credit to Hrishikesh Mukherjee for making me a star. It was he who recognised the talent in me. The rest followed easily enough. It's so sad that Hrishida passed away while I was shooting in Rajkot. He was a truly great... even visionary director. He knew precisely how to get the best out of his actors. No one can come anywhere near Hrishida when it comes to making clean, pure family films. The Hindi film industry is bound to miss him. It's an irreparable loss.

What was it like, working with him?

It is unforgettable. I enjoyed every moment of my association with Hrishida. Filmmakers like him don't come too often. How he pitted young Jaya Bhaduri against me in Guddi! Many girls her age would come to me after seeing the film, telling me they're also Guddis!

Sholay [Images] is being remade. Your comments�

They're cashing in on the name of Sholay. It is being exploited because it continues to spell magic. Of course, people will go to see the new Sholay too. In a way, it's good because the new generation will be tempted to see the original Sholay after watching the remake. But nothing can match the original Sholay. It was a dream film, to say the least.

Which particular scene of yours in Sholay are you proud of?

Shah Rukh Khan [Images] once said that my fake suicide attempt from that overhead tank in Sholay was fabulous. Others said it was like the national anthem because it was so popular. Can you imagine anyone re-enacting that particular scene from Sholay?

Despite being an action star, you've always enjoyed doing comedy, haven't you?

Oh, yes. I think comedy has always come naturally to me.

Could you name a couple of your films which you think can be remade?

There've been too many to mention. May be Phool Aur Pathar?

Who do you think should be the hero?

Sunny Deol. He is capable of many things as an actor. The thing is we Deols don't like to blow our own trumpets, unlike many other film stars. Rather we let our work do the talking for us and let the people decide.

It's being alleged that you haven't done much for your constituency in Bikaner in Rajasthan after being elected to the Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket�

That isn't true. I've been doing my best for my constituency. My men are there -- and they're more than 50 of them -- who look after things there on my behalf. They report to me regularly on things achieved. I also visit my constituency often enough. I've got works done in my constituency which weren't done for the past 50 years or so. But I don't like to highlight it by rushing to the media or keeping the media with me when I go there.

How do you feel watching some MPs hurling abuses and insults at one another and indulging in actual fighting in Parliament?

It's very, very sad. Is this our culture? Is this what our parents have taught us? What impact can this have on those impressionable young citizens of the country who watch the proceedings live on television? Where are we headed? If I had known that such things also take place in Parliament, of all places, I wouldn't have entered politics at all.

Both in reel and real life, you've always given an impression of being a great patriot�

I am. Like every true Indian, I'm proud of my country. I am cosmopolitan, but for me, India has always been a one big nation, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. I remember telling Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images], when I ran into him somewhere recently, what dizzy heights India could scale if the two main communities of the nation united and stopped quarrelling over trifle matters.

Do you enjoy the label He-man?

It's both exciting and embarrassing. It feels good sometimes when you're addressed that way but not always. Often people expect me to behave like a He-man in true Boolywood style in real life too! Nevertheless, I take it as a compliment when both the press and the public call me He-man.

Don't you think it's high time you wrote your autobiography?

I do agree with you. I, too, feel I must write one. Maybe in the near future.