Dharmendra and Hema Malini knew each other for almost ten years before marrying in 1980. Actors who were already married to Prakash Kaur fell in love with Hema at first sight when they worked together on various films.
But did you know that when Damatura first saw Hema, she thought she was “beautiful”? Hema shared this anecdote in her biography “Hema Marini: Beyond the Dream Girl” published in 2017. The two first met at the premiere of KA Abbas’s film “Asman Maha.”
“I remember (producer and mentor) B Ananthaswami had told my mother that I should start attending premiere shows of big films to gain visibility. I had just completed my first film and I had no idea what premiere shows were all about. My mother made me drape a traditional Kanjeevaram sari, put kaajal and wear a gajra. During the interval of the film, they called some of the artists and producers on stage for their feedback – as they usually do at premieres. When I was called on stage, I had to walk alone, and I remember being so shy,” she recalled, as reported by the source.
“I had just finished my film with Raj Kapoor but the film had not yet released. While walking towards the stage I heard Dharam-ji tell Shashi Kapoor in Punjabi, “Kudi badi changi hai” (The girl is quite pretty) but I chose to ignore it. Then they introduced me as Raj Kapoor’s Dream Girl. How nervous I was to be sharing the stage with Dharam-ji and Shashi Kapoor!’” she added.
Hema and Dharmendra first met in 1970 because of their movie Tum Haseen Main Jawaan. Their screen partners were a huge success, and the two appeared in many movies, including Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Raja Jani, Dream Girl and Burning Train. Despite the opposition of Hema’s parents, they finally got married in 1980.
Dharmendra has four children from his previous marriage, his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and his daughters Vijeta and Ajeita. He and Hema welcomed two daughters, Isha and Ahana.