Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s relationship was one of the most talked about love stories in Hindi cinema. Their romance began when they met on a film set in 1970 and eventually married in 1980, even though Dharmendra was already married and had four children.

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Over the years, Hema has spoken candidly about her feelings for the legendary actor, including the first time she saw him and how their relationship evolved.

In an earlier interview with ITMB Shows, Hema Malini talked about falling in love with Dharmendra at first sight.

When asked about his decision to marry her despite the circumstances, the actor explained how love guided his choices.

“Love means you can’t look right or left. You’re just in love with someone, and you move on. It’s just love at first sight, that’s all,” he said.

Hema also recalled her first impression of Dharmendra in an interview in 2022. The actor admits that his looks immediately caught his attention, though his admiration grew over time.

“When I saw him for the first time, I had never seen such a handsome man. He was exceptional and good-looking. It impressed me a lot. It was only later that I started admiring him so much. But that was what attracted me. He was also attracted to me,” she said.

Hema Malini once told Dharmendra that she has to marry him

Hema Malini has previously spoken about the challenges she faced when she decided to marry Dharmendra. Coming from a conservative Tamil family, she knew the relationship would invite questions, especially since she was already married to actor Prakash Kaur and had four children.

In her 2022 chat, Hema recalled the time when she wanted Dharmendra to formalize their relationship. She said that she was not looking for material pleasure and only wanted his love and companionship.

“There was a time when I had to tell him, ‘You marry me now. You can’t go on like this.’ I knew there would be a little trouble, but I didn’t expect anything else from him – just love. He is always there for me, so what more do I need? I don’t need property or money or anything else from him. I just need some love. That’s it,” he said.

Hema has also said that she chose to live separately after marrying Dharmendra as she did not want to disrupt her existing family life. Her comments over the years have offered a glimpse into how she navigated a relationship that came under intense public scrutiny.

Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s wedding

Dharmendra married Prakash Kaur in 1954 at the age of 19, before becoming one of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars. The couple had four children: Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Ajitha Deol and Vijaya Deol.

Dharmendra with Hema Malini on the sets of You are beautiful my young man In the 1970s. Their professional association eventually developed into a romance, and the two shared screen space in several films, including Sita and Geeta, Sholay, Jugnu And dream girl.

The actors married in 1980. Their marriage attracted a lot of attention as Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur. Reports at the time claimed that Dharmendra and Hema had converted to Islam to marry under Muslim personal law, although Dharmendra later denied the claim of conversion. The couple also held a traditional Iyengar ceremony reflecting Hema’s Tamil heritage.

Hema and Dharmendra later welcomed two daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. Despite their long relationship, the family arrangement remained a matter of public debate for decades.

What did Prakash Kaur once say about Hema Malini?

In a 1981 interview with Stardust, Prakash Kaur drew attention around Dharmendra’s relationship with Hema Malini. She defended her husband against criticism and gave a candid response to those who questioned her choices.

“Why only my husband, any man prefers Hema over me. How dare anyone womanize my husband when half the industry is doing the same thing?” He said.

The comment became one of the most remembered statements from the time, reflecting the public scrutiny the family faced.

Dharmendra’s death brought his family story back into focus

Dharmendra died on November 24, 2025 at the age of 89 in Mumbai. The veteran actor, known as the ‘He-Man’ of Bollywood, had acted in more than 300 films during his career. He was discharged from Breach Candy Hospital before his death and was cremated at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai, where many film personalities gathered to pay their respects.

A prayer meeting was held in his memory on November 27 at the Taj Lands and Hotel in Mumbai.