Dharmendra, one of Hindi cinema’s most beloved and respected stars, has worked in more than 300 films over his illustrious career. While he delivered countless hits, he also turned down several major projects. Interestingly, six such films he rejected went on to achieve great success — and four of them proved to be turning points in Amitabh Bachchan’s journey to superstardom.

Here are the films Dharmendra said no to, and how they shaped Bollywood history.

1. Zanjeer

Amitabh Bachchan’s first big breakthrough, Zanjeer (1973), transformed him into an overnight sensation and laid the foundation of his “angry young man” image. But before Amitabh, the role was offered to Dharmendra. He rejected it, and the rest became history.

2. Don

The 1978 blockbuster Don is considered one of Amitabh Bachchan’s finest performances. The film’s success cemented his star power. Surprisingly, Dharmendra was the initial choice for the lead role here as well, but he declined the offer.

3. Love in Simla

Dharmendra made his debut in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. That same year, he was offered a role in Love in Simla, but he turned it down. The film went on to become a hit without him.

4. Waqt

The 1965 multi-starrer Waqt featured big names like Balraj Sahni, Rajkumar, Sunil Dutt, and Shashi Kapoor. Dharmendra was approached for one of the roles, but he reportedly refused because he did not want to play a younger brother’s character.

5. Kaalia

Released in 1981, Kaalia is counted among Amitabh Bachchan’s memorable hits. The film was initially offered to Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna, but both declined — Dharmendra reportedly due to date issues. Amitabh eventually made the role iconic.

6. Shaan

Shaan, which featured Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor, did not perform well at the box office but later became a cult classic. This film too was first offered to Dharmendra, but he chose not to take it up.