Priyanka
Share
Bollywood has seen its fair share of dramatic love stories, some fulfilled and others left incomplete. Real-life tales of passionate affairs, dramatic marriages, and one-sided loves often mirror the themes shown on-screen. Hema Malini, often called Bollywood’s "Dream Girl", had one such love story that stood the test of time.
Hema Malini’s Early Relationships
Before marrying Dharmendra, Hema Malini had been linked with other major stars. Among them were Jeetendra and Sanjeev Kumar. Reports claim that her relationship with Sanjeev Kumar was serious enough that they had plans to get married. However, the relationship fell apart when his family insisted that Hema leave her film career, a condition she could not accept.
Jeetendra Was Almost Her Husband
Interestingly, Jeetendra was also close to marrying Hema. Their relationship was encouraged by Hema’s family, especially her mother, Jaya Chakraborty, who disapproved of Dharmendra due to his existing marriage and children. Despite this, destiny had different plans.
Love Blossomed with Dharmendra
Hema Malini and Dharmendra began falling in love while working together on several film sets. Their growing bond soon became public. However, Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur and had children, which made their relationship controversial. Hema’s family strongly opposed the match due to these complexities.
Her Mother Preferred Girish Karnad
According to reports from the 250th issue of Mayapuri, Hema’s mother preferred Kannada writer and filmmaker Girish Karnad as her ideal son-in-law. She appreciated his values and even produced the film 'Ratnadeep' to encourage a bond between Hema and Girish. However, love did not blossom between them.
Marriage Against the Odds
Despite societal resistance and family objections, Hema Malini eventually married Dharmendra. The couple went on to have two daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. Their marriage remains one of the most iconic unions in Bollywood history.
