Argus News - This Is Why Hema Malini Chose Married Dharmendra Over These Bachelor Superstars

Mumbai, Nov 24: In a profound loss to Indian cinema, Dharmendra Deol, the towering figure celebrated for his commanding presence and heartfelt performances, passed away Monday at his Mumbai residence. He was 89.

Dharmendra's personal life, marked by resilience and complexity, mirrored the depth of his film roles.

Dharmendra had married his first wife, Prakash Kaur, in 1954, years before his film career began. The couple had four children: Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta, and Ajeeta.

The Hema-Dharam Story
He and Hema Malini first met in 1970 on the film set of Tum Haseen Main Jawan. Their bond is often associated with the making of Sholay (1975), although the two had known each other earlier.

They married in 1980, even though Dharmendra never divorced Prakash Kaur. Contrary to some reports of conversion, Dharmendra later denied ever giving up his Hindu faith.

Throughout their life together, Hema did not live full-time at Dharmendra’s family home. She has said she didn’t want to “disturb anyone” and raised their two daughters, Esha and Ahana, with dignity and independence.

Regarding her relationship with Prakash Kaur, Hema had said she “respects her greatly” and has met her very few times.

Also Read: President Murmu, PM Modi Condole Demise of Veteran Actor Dharmendra


Hema's Past
Before marrying Dharmendra, Hema Malini was linked with some big names. Author Hanif Zaveri has said she and actor Sanjeev Kumar were deeply in love. Their relationship reportedly began during the filming of Seeta Aur Geeta (1972). Zaveri’s biography 'An Actor’s Actor' describes an incident: during a film shoot, a trolley they were on nearly veered off a cliff in Mahabaleshwar. That scare reportedly brought them emotionally closer. According to the same source, Sanjeev Kumar wanted to marry Hema, but there was a major roadblock: he expected her to give up her acting career after marriage.

Hema’s mother, according to reports, approved the proposal only if Hema could continue her film career — but Sanjeev’s family was opposed to this. That conflict reportedly led to the end of their relationship. Sanjeev Kumar, for his part, remained unmarried in his life — his personal life was complicated, and he died relatively young.

Hema Malini was also reportedly close to Jeetendra, and her family had considered an arranged match with him. Hema herself has spoken of maintaining a cordial relationship with both, saying she believes in “forgive and forget.”

Hema-Dharmendra's marriage was never traditional, but lasted decades and survived public scrutiny. As Dharmendra departs, the contours of his life remind us that sometimes, love in Bollywood doesn’t follow the usual script.