Dharmendra's Big Miss: The Blockbuster Film He Refused That Launched Raaj Kumar's Stardom

• Dharmendra, a leading Bollywood actor of the 70s and 80s, turned down the 1965 blockbuster film Waqt.
• Waqt, directed by Yash Chopra and produced by BR Chopra, starred Shashi Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, and Raaj Kumar.
• Dharmendra was offered the role of the elder brother, but he feared being typecast at an early career stage.
• He suggested playing the middle brother, but Yash Chopra declined, leading Dharmendra to refuse the role.
• Raaj Kumar took the role, which became a career-defining blockbuster, earning Rs 6 crore worldwide on a Rs 1 crore budget.

Why It Matters: Dharmendra's refusal of Waqt due to typecasting fears led to Raaj Kumar's career-defining success.