Dharmendra Singh Deol, veteran actor, is basking in the joy of being handpicked as a recipient of the prestigious 'Padma Bhushan'.The 'He Man' of Hindi moviebiz tells Ali Peter John that he doesn't consider himself immensely talented and is merely "a son of the soil" who's made it big, owing to the grace of God and love of audiences…

For fifty long years, Dharmendra Singh Deol has been working his big heart out to give the people the best as an actor. For fifty long years, the young man from Phagwara in Punjab who worked as a driller has been working his way into the hearts of millions armed only with his humility, his honesty, his sincerity and his will to work as hard as possible to give the people the kind of entertainment which only he can give ("the garam naram dharam brand of entertainment") because he feels it is his duty to give the people what they want "because they are the people who took a simple son of the soil, gave him all their love and placed in a position from which he can make his motherland proud".

He has worked without expecting any awards or rewards, he has only worked to please as many people as he can. There have been other actors far less talented than him and many years younger, who have walked away with some of the most prestigious awards without really deserving them, but he has never been bitter.

On the contrary, he has only appreciated them, applauded them and inspired them to carry on doing what they are. The Padma Bhushan is the ultimate award he has received. He is very happy, but he says there is no greater award than the love of the people which he has been consistently been receiving for half a decade which is no ordinary feat.

On the morning of the announcement of the award, he sits at home all by himself even as the phones and his own cell phone keep ringing and the bouquets keep coming in from people known and unknown and yet finds time to answer some questions from this writer who has been following his career since he was a child. 'Padma Bhushan' Dharmendra Singh Deol in his first interview as the winner of the Padma Bhushan Award…

Did you ever realise that you would be honored with this very special award ?

Never. I have, I must frankly tell you and I also know that you know me as an actor, who has never considered himself to be a great actor. I have only done what I can do to the best of my ability and I am very lucky to have been recognised for my work. Believe me, I think this award is not for me, but for the people of India who have been kind to me and given me more than the love I deserve. I offer this award to my people as my gratitude to them.

How does it feel for an actor who has dedicated his whole life to acting to receive an award like this?

I don't have the right words to express my feelings. I am very happy, naturally. But I also know that an award like this saddles me with many more responsibilities. I have to now look at life in a more serious way. I know my people will expect me to be a different man, but I also know that I cannot change at my age. I can still do the best I can, even though they have honoured me. I always thought this award was only given to the highly talented and those who had made a major contribution to the country, but I fail to understand what they have seen in me to confer this great award on a humble (and I mean it) son of the soil like me!

Will this award help you to be a better actor?

I would be much more happy if it helps me in becoming a much better human being which has always been by goal. It will make me a more responsible actor and I will have to be more careful in choosing the roles I play. Mere khelne koodne ke din lagta hain poore hogaye hain, ab mujhe kuch karke dikhana hoga aur meri poori koshish hogi kuch achcha kaam karneki. And with the blessings of God, my parents and the prayers of my family which includes the whole country, I will able to do something more meaningful in the time that I have left in this world.

What are the first memories that come to your mind when you think that you are now a Padma Bhushan ?

It is very difficult to answer this question in a few minutes, there is a whole world of memories of people and circumstances and happenings that have made me what I am. I have very vivid memories of every person and every little thing that has happened in my life, we will sit and talk about it at leisure someday.

How has your family taken this major happening in your life?

They have no choice (laughs). They cannot be anything but happy and again. By family, I mean my whole country, 'mera poora Bharat aur Bharat ke log'.