Hema Malini was born 16th October 1948 in a chakaravarthy family at Ammankudi near Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) in Tamilnadu. She is also known as the Dream Girl
She is daughter of Mr. V S R Chakravarthy and Mrs. Jaya Chakravarthy. Her mother is a Tamil film producer. Hema Malini is a trained classical dancer and she has performed at a number of dance shows and concerts.
Hema malini acted in a short episode as dancer in Pandava Vanavasam, a Telugu film in 1961. Hema first tried to enter films in 1964, but was rejected; Tamil director Sridhar said she had no star appeal. She persisted and found her niche in Bollywood.
Hema made her debut in Bollywood with the film "Sapno Ka Saudagar" opposite Raj Kapoor. Her next movie was "Johny Mera Naam" opposite Dev Anand. The movie "Johny Mera Naam" was super hit at box office and Hema became a top star. Hema Malini again worked with Deva Anand in the film "Tere Mere Sapne". Hema Malini played double role with Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar in the movie "Seeta Aur Geeta" which was also a successful film at box office.
With these hit films she became one of the ruling divas in the Bollywood and her fans called her 'Dream Girl' of the Bollywood.
Though Hema had starred many hit movies in 70's and 80's but she is best remembered for her role in "Sholay" as talkative Tangewali.
Hema had taken backseat from films for a few years and she joined Bharatiya Janata Party, and became a member of the Rajya Sabha.
She began to be seen more frequently on the screen after Hey Ram (2000). In Baghban (2003), she and Amitabh Bachchan played an elderly couple who are ill treated by their children. She was seen in a brief appearance in the hit Veer Zaara (2004) as Shah Rukh Khan’s mother. She again playing Amitabh Bachchan’s wife in Baabul (2006).
Hema Malini had turned down marriage proposal from Jeetendra and Sanjeev Kumar before marrying her co-star Dharmendrashe met with hot fellow actor, Dharmendra, both were attracted to each other and wanted to get married. Dharmendra, who was already married to Prakash Kaur, and had two sons, Sunny and Bobby, could not marry Hema as Prakash refused to divorce him. According to the Hindu Marriage Act, a Hindu cannot marry a second time while the first wife is still alive. Dharmendra belongs to a Arya Samaj Hindu Punjabi Jatt family.
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| Hema Malini with her daughters: Esha and Ahana |
On August 21, 1979, both Hema and Dharmendra converted to Islam, changed their names to Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty and Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn respectively, and got married in accordance with Islamic rites. Three years after their marriage, Hema subsequently gave birth to Esha and then later to Ahana. Esha is an actress in her own rights. The trio, well proficient in the arts of Bharatnatyam dance form, have performed together at a number of dance events and concerts.
Besides acting in the films she had tried her hand at directing and made the film "Dil Ashna Hai" with Sharukh Khan and late Divya Bharti. Hema also directed and starred in the TV serial Noopur, in which she was depicted as a Bharatanatyam dancer going to America.
Hema Malni is a member of Chennai based Andhra Mahila Sabha in her early childhood.
Hema Malini was awarded the 'Padma Bhushan' in 1999 for her contribution to Indian Cinema.
In 1999, the actress was acknowledged for her work with a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.