By T N Ashok
Hema Malini is in her late 70s and looks like she is just 45 years old . She has not lost a bit of her stunning beauty or stature or looks. She is still the dream girl of Bollywood and over the weekend she celebrated 60 years in a brutually fierce and competitive film industry dominated by the Kapoors and other film flam families for over 4 decades since she took a bow in the late 60s with her maiden venture Sapno ka Saudagar
She was paired with the legendary Raj Kapoor, three times her age then, under the banner of south Indian film producer B Ananthaswamy with whom she ran into a contractual infringement having signed a contract with him for five years — eventually she won and acted in several other films to become the Dream Girl.
So, when the lights dimmed at the renowned Shanmukhananda Hall in Matunga in Mumbai and the curtains rose on a grand concert celebrating Hema Malini’s 60 remarkable years in Indian cinema, it was more than a tribute to an actress. It was a celebration of a phenomenon. Colleagues, co-stars, filmmakers and admirers gathered to honour the woman who became India’s eternal “Dream Girl”—a title that has outlived generations, trends and changing definitions of stardom.
Few actors have enjoyed a career as enduring, elegant and influential as Hema Malini. For over four decades at the pinnacle of Hindi cinema—and continuing to remain relevant as an actor, classical dancer, parliamentarian and cultural icon—she has represented grace, resilience and timeless glamour. Yet her journey began not with certainty but with challenges.
Hema Malini entered Hindi cinema in 1968 with Sapno Ka Saudagar, opposite the legendary Raj Kapoor, who was more than three decades older than her. The unusual pairing raised eyebrows, but the young debutante from Dellhi but with origins in Srirangam in Tamil Nadu instantly captured public imagination with her expressive eyes, classical poise and effortless screen presence.
Behind the scenes, however, her early career was anything but smooth. The film’s producer, B. Ananthaswamy, had signed her to a restrictive contract that became the subject of a legal dispute. At a time when young actresses rarely challenged powerful producers, Hema and her family stood their ground. Emerging successfully from the contractual battle gave her something far more valuable than freedom—it established her determination to shape her own destiny. That independence would become one of the defining features of her remarkable career.
The industry she entered was overwhelmingly dominated by North Indian actors and actresses fluent in Hindi. Hema Malini, born in Tamil Nadu but raised in Delhi, had to overcome linguistic bias , cultural differences and skepticism about whether a South Indian newcomer could become Hindi cinema’s biggest heroine.
She did successfully take over from the evergreen majestic statistique dancer actress Vyjayanthimala, who acted with every great Bollywood icon of her days — Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt. Hema not only succeeded—she conquered Bollywood.
Throughout the late 1960s and the 1970s, she delivered one memorable performance after another. Johnny Mera Naam established her as a major commercial star opposite Dev Anand. Then came a dazzling succession of hits: Seeta Aur Geeta, where she brilliantly portrayed identical twins with contrasting personalities; Jugnu; Prem Nagar; Khushboo; Kinara; Dream Girl, which permanently attached the title to her identity; Meera, where she brought spirituality and devotion to life; Satte Pe Satta; Naseeb; Kranti; Razia Sultan; and countless others that demonstrated both glamour and acting depth.
Both Razia Sultan and Lal Pathhar demonstrated her ability to take on challenging roles and deliver with consummate ease. She was not just a beautiful, talented dancer, glamour puss, but also an actor with emotional depth and intensity to portray complex characters. Her ability to match the wits of actor Raaj Kumar showed her depth of acting.
If Seeta Aur Geeta proved her comic timing and versatility, Meera revealed the seriousness beneath the star image. Directors quickly realised that behind the dazzling beauty was an accomplished performer capable of balancing commercial entertainers with meaningful cinema.
Among her many screen partnerships, two stood above the rest. With Dev Anand, Hema shared a sophisticated chemistry marked by elegance and charm. Their collaborations possessed a lightness that perfectly complemented Dev Anand’s urbane persona. Films like Johnny Mera Naam became classics not only because of gripping storytelling but because audiences adored seeing them together.
Equally memorable was her pairing with Amitabh Bachchan during the superstar’s golden years. Whether in Satte Pe Satta, Naseeb or Baghban decades later, the combination brought together Amitabh’s commanding intensity and Hema’s warmth and dignity. Their on-screen rapport evolved beautifully with time, from youthful romance to mature companionship.
Yet the most talked-about chapter of Hema Malini’s life unfolded away from the camera. It began with Dharmendra. Their romance blossomed while working together during the early 1970s, with Tum Haseen Main Jawaan often cited as one of the earliest films where they grew close. As they continued appearing together in films such as Sharafat, Jugnu, Raja Jani, Naya Zamana, Charas, Azaad and, most famously, Sholay, their affection deepened into one of Bollywood’s most enduring love stories.
By then, however, Dharmendra was already married and had a family. Their relationship inevitably attracted enormous public scrutiny. At a time when the personal lives of film stars became front-page news, every development was discussed, debated and often criticised. Despite the controversy, Hema Malini and Dharmendra chose to remain together and eventually married in 1980.
The marriage required courage from both of them. It also demanded remarkable restraint. Throughout the years, Hema rarely spoke publicly about the complexities of their personal lives, preferring dignity over sensationalism. She built her own independent identity even while sharing life with one of Hindi cinema’s greatest leading men.
Together they have two daughters. Esha Deol followed her parents into films, making her debut in the early 2000s and starring in several Hindi films before later focusing on family life and selective creative pursuits. Their younger daughter, Ahana Deol, chose a different path, remaining largely away from the film industry while pursuing interests in dance and family life.
One aspect of Hema Malini’s personal life that has often invited curiosity is her relationship with Dharmendra’s sons from his first marriage—Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, themselves among Bollywood’s biggest stars.
The family has generally maintained privacy regarding personal relationships. Over the years, public appearances have suggested mutual respect while allowing each household its own space. In recent years, there have also been occasions—particularly at family celebrations—where members of the extended family have come together, reflecting cordial ties despite the unusual family dynamics.
Like her public career, Hema Malini has handled these relationships with characteristic grace, rarely responding to speculation or gossip. Perhaps that is one reason her image has remained untarnished for nearly six decades.
Unlike many stars whose popularity faded with changing generations, Hema successfully reinvented herself. She transitioned from leading lady to accomplished character actor with memorable performances, including the much-loved Baghban, where she reunited with Amitabh Bachchan in a story celebrating enduring love and companionship.
Beyond cinema, she continued pursuing classical Bharatanatyam with extraordinary dedication. Her dance ballets, choreographed with artistic precision, earned acclaim across India and abroad, proving that she was never merely a film star but a complete performing artist.
Her public life expanded further through social service and politics, serving as a Member of Parliament while continuing to represent Indian culture through dance and cinema. She has been returned from the Hindi heartland of Mathura three times as MP for the ruling BJP party.
Yet through every role—actor, dancer, mother, parliamentarian—the title “Dream Girl” has remained inseparable from her identity.
Perhaps because it signifies something larger than beauty. It represents aspiration. A young girl from Delhi with origins in Tamil Nadu who entered a Hindi-speaking industry as an outsider became one of its brightest and longest-shining stars. She worked with every major hero of her era—from Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dharmendra to Jeetendra, Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. She survived changing fashions, shifting audiences and evolving cinema while retaining the affection of millions.
The concert in Mumbai celebrating six decades of Hema Malini’s cinematic journey was therefore not merely an anniversary. It was a salute to perseverance, elegance and artistic excellence. In an industry where careers often flicker briefly before fading into memory, Hema Malini has remained luminous for nearly sixty years.
Some stars entertain. Some become legends. And then there are those rare artists whose names become part of India’s cultural imagination itself.
For generations of movie lovers, Hema Malini will forever remain the Dream Girl—not because she lived in a dream, but because she made millions dream with her. It was unfortunate she lost her husband Dharmendra to age related ailments. She has confessed that life has been hard on her without him and she lives with his fond memories grieving his loss that has created a void in her life.
This writer met her for the first time in 2014 when she had been elected to the Lok Sabha from Mathura at a party hosted by Nitin Gadkari , then party president i think, having a half an hour chat about her films, her family and her professional life and the new challenge. She confessed to me she was nervous and she was overwhelmed by the attention she received at the party and said ” I feel a little awkward with people wanting to take selfies with me and attention and adoration embarasses me”.
I told her you are worthy of every inch of it – because that’s the price you pay for being a dream girl. She was stunning even at that age, she must have been 60, she looked hardly 40. Remarkable. She lived in Lodhi Road as an MP and invited me for Idli & Dosa. (IPA Service)
