Look, before we dive into this story, I need to acknowledge something heavy that just happened. On November 24, 2025, Dharmendra—Hema Malini’s husband of 45 years and one of Bollywood’s greatest legends—passed away at 89. The loss has shaken the entire Indian film industry, and Hema, at 77, is navigating this grief while continuing her duties as a Member of Parliament.
But today, we’re going to talk about Hema Malini’s biography—not just as Dharmendra’s wife, though that’s an important part of her story—but as a woman who carved out her own legendary status. We’re talking about the “Dream Girl” of Bollywood, a classical dancer who became one of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars, a filmmaker, a politician serving her third term in Parliament, and a cultural icon who’s been in the public eye for over six decades.
This isn’t your typical rags-to-riches Bollywood story. This is about a Tamil Brahmin girl who didn’t even want to be an actress, who faced rejection for being “too thin,” who eventually became one of the highest-paid actresses of her time, married a man who was already married (in one of Bollywood’s most talked-about relationships), raised daughters while maintaining her career, and then reinvented herself as a politician at an age when most actors retire.
So let’s talk about Hema Malini—the woman behind the “Dream Girl” title, the dancer who never stopped dancing, and the politician who represents Mathura in the Lok Sabha while still being Bollywood royalty.
The Beginning: A Dancer Who Never Wanted to Act
Hema Malini was born on October 16, 1948, in Ammankudi, a small village in what was then Madras Province (now Tamil Nadu). Her full name at birth was Hema Malini R. Chakravarty, and she came from a traditional Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family.
Her father was V.S. Ramanujam Chakravarti (also referred to as VSR Chakravarti Iyengar in some sources), who worked as the regional director of the Employees’ State Insurance. Her mother, Jaya Lakshmi Chakravarthy, was initially a housewife and writer who later became a film producer—and this detail is crucial because Jaya would become the driving force behind Hema’s film career.
Hema has two brothers—Kannan and Jagannath—and she’s the youngest of the three siblings.
Here’s what most people don’t know: Hema never wanted to be an actress. Her passion, from as young as six years old, was dance. Classical dance. Bharatanatyam, specifically.
The Dance Foundation
When Hema was just six, she began learning Bharatanatyam. The family moved around—first spending time in New Delhi, then settling in Chennai (then called Madras)—and throughout all those moves, dance remained her constant.
She was educated at the Andhra Mahila Sabha in Chennai and later attended DTEA (Delhi Tamil Education Association) Mandir Marg school until the 11th standard. But honestly? School was just something she had to do. Her real education was happening in the dance studio.
Hema trained rigorously in Bharatanatyam, and later expanded to Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam. She was inspired by actress Vyjayanthimala, who had successfully transitioned from being a classical dancer to a mainstream cinema star—a path Hema would eventually follow, though not by choice initially.
She’s said in interviews: “My interest was dance and, in the beginning, I didn’t enjoy acting at all. It was my mother who brought me into films and who looked after my career. I remember each time a producer came to meet her, my only reaction was, ‘Oh God, another year of my life gone.'”
That’s right—Bollywood’s “Dream Girl” initially saw every film offer as another year of her life wasted. She wanted to be a dancer, not a movie star.
The Rejection That Almost Changed Everything
In 1963, when Hema was just 15, she performed as a dancer in a Tamil film called “Idhu Sathiyam” (This is Truth). It was a small supporting role, but it got her noticed.
Then came the rejection that could have ended her film career before it started.
Tamil director C.V. Sridhar was casting for his film “Venniradai” in 1964, and Hema auditioned for the lead role. Sridhar took one look at her and said no. His reason? She was too thin to be a heroine. The role went to Venniradai Nirmala instead.
For many aspiring actors, that kind of rejection—being told you don’t have the right physical appearance—would be crushing. But Hema’s mother, Jaya, wasn’t about to give up. If Tamil cinema didn’t want her daughter, they’d try Hindi cinema.
1968: The “Dream Girl” is Born
In 1968, Hema got her first major break—she was cast opposite the legendary Raj Kapoor in “Sapno Ka Saudagar” (The Merchant of Dreams).
This is where the “Dream Girl” branding began. The film’s marketing promoted her as “Dream Girl Hema Malini,” and while the movie itself flopped at the box office, that title stuck. For the rest of her career—over 50 years later—she’d still be known as the “Dream Girl.”
Think about that. A marketing gimmick for a failed film became her lifelong identity. That’s the power of branding, even in 1968.
But here’s the thing: while “Sapno Ka Saudagar” didn’t work, it established Hema as someone to watch. She had screen presence. She had grace from her dance training. She had beauty. And most importantly, producers and directors saw potential.
The 1970s: When She Became a Superstar
The early 1970s is when everything exploded for Hema Malini. We’re talking about her golden era—the period when she went from being a newcomer to being one of the highest-paid actresses in Bollywood.
In 1970, she starred in “Johny Mera Naam” (Johnny is My Name), which was a massive hit. But the real game-changer came in 1972 with “Seeta Aur Geeta” (Seeta and Geeta).
Seeta Aur Geeta: The Role That Defined Her
“Seeta Aur Geeta” is one of those films that showcased exactly what Hema could do. She played dual roles—twin sisters who are complete opposites. Seeta is timid and oppressed; Geeta is bold and fearless. Playing both characters required range, comic timing, and the ability to make audiences believe you’re watching two different people.
Hema nailed it. The film was a blockbuster, and she won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance. Suddenly, she wasn’t just another pretty face—she was an actress who could carry a film on her shoulders.
The 1970s and early 1980s became Hema’s kingdom. She was in demand, working with every major actor of that era—Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, and more.
The Iconic Pairing with Dharmendra
But if we’re talking about Hema Malini’s biography, we can’t skip the Dharmendra factor. Their on-screen chemistry was electric, and audiences couldn’t get enough of them together.
They first met at a film premiere, and their first film together was “Tum Haseen Main Jawaan” (You’re Beautiful and I’m Young) in 1970. That’s when their real-life love story began, though it would be complicated—very complicated—for years to come.
Hema and Dharmendra were paired romantically in 31 films out of the 35 they worked in together. Of those, 20 were hits and 15 were flops. Their on-screen magic was undeniable, and audiences loved watching them together.
1975: Sholay and Bollywood Immortality
Then came “Sholay” (Embers) in 1975.
If you know anything about Bollywood, you know “Sholay” is arguably the greatest Indian film ever made. It’s not just a movie—it’s a cultural phenomenon that defined Indian cinema.
Hema played Basanti, the talkative, fearless tonga (horse cart) driver who becomes the love interest of Veeru (Dharmendra’s character). Her performance was vibrant, funny, and memorable. The character of Basanti—with her non-stop chatter, her relationship with her horse Dhanno, and her spirited personality—became iconic.
The film also featured one of Bollywood’s most famous dance sequences: “Jab Tak Hai Jaan” where Basanti dances on broken glass to save Veeru’s life. Hema’s classical dance training shone through, and the sequence became legendary.
“Sholay” wasn’t just a hit—it ran in theaters for years. It made everyone associated with it into legends, and Hema’s Basanti remains one of the most beloved characters in Bollywood history.
The Complicated Love Story: Hema and Dharmendra
Alright, let’s talk about the elephant in the room—Hema’s relationship with Dharmendra and how they got married.
Throughout the 1970s, Hema and Dharmendra were falling in love. But there was a massive problem: Dharmendra was already married.
He had married Prakash Kaur in 1954 and had four children with her—two sons, Sunny and Bobby (who would also become actors), and two daughters. And Prakash refused to divorce him.
According to Hindu Marriage Act, a Hindu cannot marry a second time while the first wife is still alive. So technically, Dharmendra couldn’t marry Hema.
Hema had turned down marriage proposals from other actors—both Sanjeev Kumar and Jeetendra had proposed to her, according to her authorized biography. But she was in love with Dharmendra, and he was in love with her.
The Controversial Solution
So here’s what they did: On August 21, 1979, both Hema and Dharmendra converted to Islam.
Hema changed her name to Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty. Dharmendra became Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn. And then they married according to Islamic rites, which permit a man to have more than one wife.
The conversion was purely for legal purposes—to circumvent the Hindu Marriage Act restrictions. They got married in a private ceremony in Khandala, and the news sent shockwaves through Bollywood and beyond.
Critics called it a loophole. Religious groups were outraged. The public was scandalized. But Hema and Dharmendra didn’t care. They were together, and that’s what mattered to them.
On May 2, 1980 (some sources say this is when they formalized the marriage), they officially became husband and wife. Three years later, in 1981, their daughter Esha Deol was born. In 1985, their second daughter, Ahana Deol, was born.
Living with the Controversy
For years, Hema faced judgment for being “the other woman.” People whispered that she broke up Dharmendra’s family. The fact that Prakash Kaur never divorced Dharmendra meant that technically, he had two wives—though he and Hema lived together while Prakash raised their children separately.
It’s messy, complicated, and not the fairy-tale romance Bollywood usually sells. But it’s real, and both Hema and Dharmendra have maintained that their love was genuine and that they have no regrets.
Hema raised Esha and Ahana, both of whom trained in classical dance like their mother. Esha even followed her into acting, though with mixed success. Ahana chose to stay more private, though she’s made occasional public appearances.
The 1980s: Career Shifts and New Partnerships
After marrying Dharmendra, Hema’s career dynamics shifted. Interestingly, while her pairing with Dharmendra had dominated the 1970s, the 1980s saw her having major success with Rajesh Khanna.
In fact, the Hema-Rajesh Khanna pairing had been written off after three flops in the late ’70s. But then in the 1980s, they gave audiences eight blockbusters together. Films like “Dard” (1981), “Kudrat” (1981), “Naseeb” (1981), and others were massive hits.
By the mid-1980s, Hema began transitioning from romantic lead roles to more substantial character parts. She starred in parallel cinema films that explored complex social themes—”Ek Chadar Maili Si” (A Dirty Bedsheet) in 1986 and “Rihaee” (Liberation) in 1988 dealt with gender issues and social reform.
She was one of the few actresses of her era who successfully made that transition from glamorous heroine to serious actress playing meaningful roles.
The Filmmaker: Behind the Camera
In 1992, Hema took on a new challenge—she made her directorial debut with “Dil Aashna Hai” (The Heart Knows).
The film starred a young Shah Rukh Khan (in one of his earliest roles) and Divya Bharti. While it wasn’t a massive commercial success, it showed Hema’s ambition to do more than just act.
She directed another film, “Mohini,” in 1995, and also produced and directed several television serials for Doordarshan (India’s national broadcaster), including “Noopur,” where she played a Bharatanatyam dancer.
She even served as an anchor for the popular weekly show “Rangoli” on Doordarshan, proving she could handle multiple aspects of the entertainment industry.
The Dance Never Stopped
Through all of this—the films, the marriage, raising daughters, the controversies—Hema never stopped dancing.
She owns the Natya Vihar Kalakendra, a dance school where she trains students in classical Indian dance forms. She’s performed in countless stage shows and dance concerts, both solo and with her daughters.
Her dance performances weren’t just about entertainment—they were cultural preservation. She became an ambassador for Indian classical dance, performing internationally and bringing Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Mohiniyattam to global audiences.
Even in her film roles, her dance training gave her an edge. Many of her song-dance sequences in movies showcased her classical technique, elevating them beyond typical Bollywood choreography.
The Political Journey: From Silver Screen to Parliament
In 1999, Hema took her first steps into politics by campaigning for BJP candidate Vinod Khanna (a former Bollywood actor himself) in the Lok Sabha elections in Gurdaspur, Punjab.
Then in February 2004, she officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one of India’s two major political parties.
From 2003 to 2009, she served in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of India’s Parliament) after being nominated by then-President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. From 2011 to 2012, she again served in the Rajya Sabha representing Karnataka.
But her real political breakthrough came in 2014.
The Mathura Connection
In the 2014 general elections, Hema contested for a seat in the Lok Sabha (the lower house) from Mathura, a holy city in Uttar Pradesh associated with Lord Krishna.
The connection made sense—Hema has long been a devotee of Krishna and is a life member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Mathura is Krishna’s birthplace, and representing that constituency felt spiritually significant to her.
She defeated the incumbent, Jayant Chaudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), by a massive margin of 330,743 votes.
In 2019, she won again—this time with an even more comfortable margin, getting 671,293 votes compared to her nearest rival’s 377,822 votes. She won by around 3 lakh (300,000) votes.
And in 2024, she contested and won again for her third term, cementing her status not just as a celebrity politician but as a serious representative of her constituency.
What Kind of Politician Is She?
Hema’s political career has been a mix of traditional constituency work and leveraging her celebrity status.
She’s been involved in development projects in Mathura, pushed for tourism development (given Mathura’s religious significance), and advocated for various causes including animal welfare (she’s a PETA India supporter and vegetarian), cultural preservation, and women’s issues.
Critics have pointed out that she doesn’t always attend Parliament sessions regularly and that she relies heavily on her celebrity status rather than grassroots political work. Fair criticism? Maybe. But she’s also been re-elected twice, suggesting her constituents are satisfied with her representation.
In March 2010, she was made general secretary of the BJP, showing the party’s confidence in her political future.
The Recent Years: Loss and Legacy
In 2003, after a break from films, Hema returned to cinema with “Baghban” (Gardener), where she played opposite Amitabh Bachchan. Her performance earned her an award nomination and proved she could still command the screen.
She appeared in “Veer-Zaara” (2004), “Baabul” (2006), and “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” (2007). In 2017, she portrayed Vijaya Raje Scindia, a real-life politician and royal, in “Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi” (There Was a Queen Like This).
Her most recent film was “Shimla Mirchi,” released in 2020.
Throughout these years, she continued her dance performances, her political work, and her various business ventures. She owns properties, runs her dance school, and has built an estimated net worth exceeding Rs 278 crore (about $33-35 million USD).
November 24, 2025: The Day Everything Changed
Then came November 24, 2025. Dharmendra, after a brief illness, passed away at 89.
They’d been married for 45 years. Through all the controversy, all the judgment, all the complications, they’d stayed together. And now, at 77, Hema was widowed.
The funeral brought together the entire Bollywood film fraternity. Both families—Dharmendra’s children from both marriages—came together to mourn. Sunny, Bobby, Esha, and Ahana all stood together, a testament to how the blended family had found peace over the years.
Hema, ever graceful, handled her grief privately while acknowledging the public’s outpouring of sympathy. She took a brief pause from her parliamentary duties but has since returned to work, channeling her grief into her responsibilities.
The Awards and Recognition
Let’s talk numbers and accolades, because Hema Malini’s biography wouldn’t be complete without them.
She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for “Seeta Aur Geeta” in 1972. Over her career, she received 11 Filmfare nominations for Best Actress—a testament to consistent excellence.
In 2000, she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her decades of contribution to Indian cinema. In 2019, she received the Filmfare Special Award for 50 Years of Outstanding Contribution to Cinema.
The Government of India honored her with the Padma Shri in 2000—the fourth-highest civilian honor in India. In 2013, she received the NTR National Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
She served as Chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) from 2002 to 2003—the first woman to lead that organization.
In 2021, she received the Indian Film Personality of the Year Award at the International Film Festival of India.
The Multifaceted Icon: More Than Just “Dream Girl”
What makes Hema Malini fascinating isn’t just that she was a beautiful actress who became a star. It’s that she’s been so many things simultaneously.
She’s been:
- An actress in over 150 films across multiple languages
- A classical dancer who never stopped performing
- A filmmaker and director
- A television producer and host
- A magazine editor (she edited “New Woman” and “Meri Saheli”)
- A businesswoman with multiple ventures
- A three-term Member of Parliament
- A mother and grandmother (she became a grandmother in 2015 when Ahana had her first child, and now has multiple grandchildren)
- An animal welfare advocate
- A Krishna devotee and ISKCON life member
She’s also been a fashion icon—she was among the first actresses to wear bell-bottoms and shirts in Hindi movies, breaking traditional costume norms. Yet she’s also among the few who kept their word about not wearing revealing outfits in public, maintaining a certain dignified image.
The Controversies She’s Faced
No Hema Malini biography would be honest without addressing controversies beyond just her marriage.
In 2015, her Mercedes was involved in a road accident that killed a four-year-old child and injured several others. Hema sustained minor injuries, but the incident led to public criticism about VIP culture and road safety.
In 2016, a Public Interest Litigation challenged the allotment of a plot of land in Mumbai to her dance academy, with allegations that it was meant for public gardens. The Maharashtra government eventually stated she hadn’t accepted the land.
As a politician, she’s faced criticism for inconsistent attendance in Parliament, for making tone-deaf statements occasionally, and for being seen as more celebrity than serious politician.
She’s also faced ongoing scrutiny about her relationship with Dharmendra and the complicated family dynamics, though that has mellowed over the years as both families found ways to coexist.
The Legacy: What Will She Be Remembered For?
At 77, still serving as an MP, still dancing, still making occasional film appearances, Hema Malini’s legacy is still being written.
She’ll be remembered as:
The “Dream Girl” who defined an era of Bollywood with grace, beauty, and talent.
The dancer who brought classical Indian dance to mainstream cinema and never stopped performing it.
The actress who played everything from comedy to intense drama, creating iconic characters like Basanti that remain beloved decades later.
The woman who loved openly despite social judgment and built a complicated but enduring family.
The politician who proved that film stars could transition to serious public service.
The multitasker who showed you could be an actress, dancer, mother, politician, and businesswoman simultaneously.
The Bottom Line on Hema Malini
Here’s my take after diving deep into Hema Malini’s biography: she’s proof that life doesn’t have to be linear or simple to be remarkable.
She didn’t want to be an actress—she became one of the greatest. She fell in love with a married man—and built a 45-year marriage despite the controversy. She was told she was too thin to be a heroine—and became the “Dream Girl” of an entire generation. She could have retired into comfortable obscurity decades ago—instead she’s serving her third term in Parliament while still performing dance concerts.
Her life has been complicated, messy, controversial, and absolutely extraordinary. She’s made choices that others judged, taken risks that others wouldn’t, and built a legacy that spans cinema, dance, and politics.
And even now, after losing her husband of 45 years, she continues. Because that’s who Hema Malini is—someone who keeps dancing, keeps working, keeps moving forward.
The “Dream Girl” title was a marketing gimmick for a flop film back in 1968. But Hema Malini made it mean something—she became the dream that inspired millions, showed what was possible through talent and determination, and proved that you could reinvent yourself as many times as needed.
At 77, still serving her constituency, still performing, still being Bollywood royalty, Hema Malini remains proof that some dreams never end—they just keep evolving into new forms.
So what do you think? Is she primarily an actress who dabbled in politics, or a serious politician who happened to come from films? A classical dancer who happened to become a movie star, or a movie star who happened to love classical dance? Maybe she’s all of these things at once—which might be exactly the point.
