In the illustrious history of Bollywood, certain stories remain untold, films unmade with different casts, and opportunities missed. One such instance involves the iconic actor Dharmendra and a film that, despite boasting two superstars, four significant awards, and a celebrated director, never saw him in its cast. This is the story of Hema Malini's directorial debut, "Dil Aashna Hai".

"Dil Aashna Hai," released in 1992, marked Hema Malini's foray into direction. The film featured Shah Rukh Khan, Divya Bharti, Amrita Singh, and Mithun Chakraborty in leading roles and won four awards. However, what many don't know is that Hema Malini initially wanted her husband, Dharmendra, to play a crucial role in the movie. According to Hema, Dharmendra refused to act under her direction. She revealed that she wanted to cast Dharmendra in her first film, but he was not willing to act under his wife's direction.

Adding to the behind-the-scenes drama, Dharmendra was absent during the film's muhurat (auspicious beginning), further fueling rumors. However, he later shut down the gossip by attending the audio launch and premiere, showing his support for Hema's venture. Hema clarified that Dharmendra was in the USA during the muhurat and that he was fully supportive throughout the film's making. She said she updated him every day about the film's developments.

Interestingly, Dharmendra isn't the only prominent name associated with "Dil Aashna Hai" who didn't make it to the final cast. Hema Malini had also approached Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan for roles in the film. However, Khanna couldn't accommodate the dates due to scheduling conflicts, and Bachchan was on sabbatical at the time.

While "Dil Aashna Hai" remains a significant film in Hema Malini's career, the story of Dharmendra's refusal adds an intriguing layer to its history. It speaks volumes about the dynamics within the family and the professional choices actors make. While the exact reasons for Dharmendra's refusal remain speculative, it's clear that the film's journey to the screen was filled with almost as much drama as the movie itself.