When Hema Malini Reacted To Marrying Already Married Dharmendra And Living Separately

Dharmendra, the renowned actor, one of the most recognisable figures in Indian cinema—passed away on Monday, November 24 after a protracted struggle with respiratory problems. Through his iconic parts and timeless speech, the actor with a rich film heritage will live on in the hearts of moviegoers forever. With two marriages, six children, and 13 grandchildren, Dharmendra's personal life has been just as significant to the news as his films. The late actor's love story with Hema Malini, included everything from forbidden romance to the promises of forever.

Dharmendra and Hema Malini rose to fame in the 1970s with their filmography, including movies like Sharafat and Tum Haseen Main Jawan, as well as Naya Zamana, Seeta Aur Geeta, Raja Jani, Jugnu, Patthar Aur Payal, Pratigya, Sholay, and many more. Additionally, there were rumours circulating that the two were dating off-screen.

ALSO READ - When Sparks Flew On Set And Hema Malini, Dharmendra’s Reel Romance Turned Into A Real-Life Love Story

Hema Malini's mother, Jaya Chakravarthy, disapproved of her daughter's relationship with Dharmendra because he was already married with four kids. However, once they got married, the news of their relationship couldn't be kept hidden anymore. The Bollywood Dream Girl shared her memori that she was referred to as the 'first lady of second marriages' once word of her marrige spread.

Hema Malini was questioned about her choice to marry a man who was already married during an interview. In an interview with Rajdeep Sardesai on India Today in 2022, she reminisced that when she first saw him, he was the most attractive man she had ever seen.

Hema Malini said, "He was exceptional and good looking. That really impressed me. It didn't mean I wanted to marry him. It was only later that I started admiring him so much. But it was him who was wooing me. He was also attracted to me."

Hema Malini recalled  giving him an ultimatum when discussing her decision to marry a married man with kids and coming from a traditional Tamil family. "There was a time when I had to tell him, 'you better marry me now. You cannot go on like this. I knew there would be a little problem but I don't expect anything else from him. Just love. He's always there for me so so what else do I need. I don't need property or money or anything else from him. I just need some love. That's it."

ALSO READ - 'I Have Only One Mother': When Esha Deol Learned About Her Dad Dharmendra’s First Marriage To Prakash Kaur In Class 4

Dharmendra And Hema Malini Lived Separately

Hema Malini and Dharmendra lived separately despite being married. Talking about the setup of her wedding, she disclosed that she is not required to monitor him and record the number of days he spends with her. "I am not a police officer who needs to keep tabs on him. I don’t need to show people a roll-call register of how many days he visits me. He knows his duty as a father, and I’ve never had to remind him of it."

Hema Malini discussed her living situation with Dharmendra in a 2023 interview for Lehren Retro. She acknowledged that no one wants to be that way, but that's what happened to her. She acknowledged it, but no one desires to have a life like this.

Hema Malini shared, "Every woman wants to have a husband, children, like a normal family. But somewhere, it went out of the way… I am not feeling bad about it, or sulking about it. I am happy with myself."