Dharmendra And The Fiat 1100: A Love Story More Real Than The Internet’s Lies
Other than the news and reports related to the unfortunate car blast near Red Fort in Delhi, another piece of news that we heard earlier today was about veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra. There were reports on several mainstream media platforms that the actor had passed away. Just hours after this, Hema Malini and Esha Deol responded and slammed everyone for spreading fake news. Dharmendra is in the hospital, and he is recovering and responding to medication.
Just like most actors in the industry, Dharmendra also had a thing for cars. In fact, in his career, he has bought several expensive cars. However, there is one car that remains very close to his heart - his first car, a Fiat 1100 sedan. Dharam Paaji, as many like to call him, had posted a video on his Instagram profile a while ago. In this video, he spoke about the Fiat 1100 that he loves more than any other vehicle in his garage.
The actor mentioned in his Instagram video that he had bought the Fiat 1100 back in 1960 and had paid around Rs 18,000 for it. While he was slowly rising to fame in Bollywood, like most actors, he had an insecurity in his mind. He was worried that he might soon lose roles and get replaced by someone else in the industry.
That was another reason why he bought the Fiat 1100. He kept the sedan as a backup in case he lost his job as an actor in the future. He had planned to drive this car as a taxi in Mumbai if his fears ever turned into reality. The actor mentioned the same in the video too. That never happened, as the audience actually loved him, and the Fiat 1100 managed to retain its spot in Dharmendra’s garage.
Dharmendra has a soft corner for this car, and he ensures his first car receives special care every now and then. In the video, we see him standing next to the car, and we can’t complain about its condition.
The actor has had the car completely restored. It is not finished in the usual black or off-white shade. The car has been completely repainted in a shade of olive green and bronze. The car now looks elegant and has not lost its charm.
The front grille, bumper, and chrome accents on other parts of the car’s body have been restored and repainted in bronze or copper accents. The rest of the body panels get the olive green shade. The interior of the car has also been restored to give it a fresh look.
Dharmendra’s love for this particular Fiat 1100 is clearly visible in the video. It feels more real than the fake news currently circulating on the internet.
The Fiat 1100 is powered by a 1,089 cc, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine that generates 36 bhp. Other than the Fiat 1100, Dharmendra owns cars like the old-generation Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan, and many others.