Hema Malini is another one of my all-time favorite actresses of Bollywod. She is remembered by one and all as the “Dream Girl” of Bollywood due to her unforgettable role in the movie ‘Dream girl’ paired opposite the actor Dharmendra. I was in love with them both and loved to watch them on screen together. They were probably one of the most romantic couples on screen in those days. And their romantic interest in each other in real life aided in their movies being box office hits.
Hema Malini has done a lot of work in Hindi cinema. She can proudly boast of playing the romantic lead role as a heroine in more than 1000 films. The only other actress known to match this is Rekha. She was born in Madras on October 16, 1948. She trained as a Bharat Natyam dancer and made her debut in Raj kapoor”s film “Sapnon ka Saudagar” in 1968. She was the second South Indian film star next to Vyjayantimala to be a major hindi film star.
Ironically, her career had almost ended before it could even begin. She was thrown out of a Tamil film in 1964, for the reason that she had no “star appeal”! Hema then resolved to make it big in the place where it mattered more - Bollywood.
And what a performance it has been! She has acted in a variety of roles and made quite an impact in the industry. There would be a huge void that would be irreplaceable after her exit. She has made her mark not only in her acting career but also as a proficient and professional classical dancer. She is truly a woman of substance today and I look upto her as a good role model for women today. Her beauty and grace has charmed the hearts of many a men and continue to do so even today!
She has been paired opposite the then top heroes of the industry, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetender, Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan etc…
Her roles to be remembered are: As Raaj Kumar’s Scheming mistress in Lal Pathar (1971). She not only made the audience empathize with her negative role but also stole a march over Rakhee, a great actress of that time. She dared to play the role of a young widow in Andaaz (1971), a role that was turned down by most actresses. She tried to change her glamorous image by working with Gulzar and did some of her best and perhaps most introspective work in films like – Khushboo (1975), Kinara (1977) and Meera (1979).
She has shown daring roles not only in cinema but also in her real life by having an affair and marrying Dharmendra who was already married at that time. She took up the role of the second wife and has shown great courage and determination by sticking to her ideals and living life on her own terms.
She has a lot more than just films and her dance career to her credit. She is also a successful magazine editor (New Woman).She has also joined politics and is an active member of the Rajya Sabha. She has contributed a lot, in her own ways, towards the cultural development of this country. And we are proud of her! Unfortunately, there aren’t that many roles for women of her age in the hindi cinema and therefore we are deprived of this great actress’s beauty and grace and talent, that would have been a treat for sore eyes. She made a come back with Baghbaan (2003) and it was an instant hit.
I am sure that people would love to see more of her films.
Some of her most memorable films are:
Johnny Mera Naam (1970)
Andaaz (1971)
Lal Pathar (1971)
Seeta aur Geeta (1972)
Khushboo (1975)
Sholay (1975)
Kinara (1977)
Meera (1979)
Naseeb (1981)
Razia Sultan (1983)
Rihaee (1988)
Baghban (2003)
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