Coming soon: Garam Dharam; not to a theatre near you, but on your plates

Mumbai: Garam Dharam. Yes, that is the popular sobriquet by which the original he-man of Hindi cinema goes by.

And what do you know? Those signature words will also be his new business – a chain of restaurants and hotels in the country.

Veeru Paaji is entering the hospitality business and will partner Capital restaurateurs Umang Tiwari and Micky Mehta to open their first restaurant in Connaught Place, New Delhi.

Mickey Mehta told us: “The restaurant will be like Dharamji’s image as seen in umpteen films – angry and rustic. He is the inspiration behind the concept ‘Garam Dharam’”.

With this new venture, the actor joins a band of celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, Asha Bhonsale, Dino Morea and Zaheer Khan, who too have looked to find their way into hearts through the stomach.

Dharmendra is also said to be building a cottage farmhouse in Lonavala, a hill station in Maharashtra and another family restaurant in Lokhandwala, Mumbai.

“Just like his persona, the theme of the restaurant will resemble his desi style. The whole place gives you a countryside Punjabi dhaba feel,” said Rajesh Gulati, named partner of ‘Garam Dharam’.

“Dharmendra is very closely involved with this project and is giving his inputs in everything from the menu to the interiors of the place," said Umang Tiwari, owner of the popular Vault café, Out of the Box Café, Raas, among others in Delhi.

The partners said the interior of the restaurants would resemble a cattle stable which will serve authentic North Indian and Iranian-Parsi food. A bit of a cross-country multi-cuisine that? Well, never mind!

The first ‘Garam Dharam' restaurant will open in September in Connaught, New Delhi followed by other branches in the different parts of North India.

The actor, who was last seen in ‘Second hand husband’, could not be contacted for his views on the new venture.