Hema Malini, the "Dream Girl" of Bollywood, has captivated audiences for decades with her beauty and talent. While known for her grace and poise, she once revealed a surprising detail about her career: she was genuinely scared of a particular Bollywood villain. This villain, known for his menacing on-screen presence, was none other than Prem Chopra.
Malini confessed that Chopra's intense gaze and portrayal of negative characters often sent shivers down her spine. Chopra, who has acted in over 380 films, dominated the Bollywood villain scene for nearly three decades, inspiring fear in audiences and fellow actors alike.
Despite her fear, Hema Malini, in a playful move, used this very fear to her advantage. During the filming of "Raja Jani" in 1972, Hema Malini intentionally romanced Prem Chopra on screen to ignite jealousy in Dharmendra, with whom she was deeply in love.
In a television appearance, Malini recounted an amusing incident during the shooting of the song "Kitna Maza Aa Raha Hai" in Udaipur. As she was enacting a romantic scene with Prem Chopra to make Dharmendra jealous, Chopra, seemingly enjoying the attention, began acting like a hero himself. This, according to Malini, "irritated" Dharmendra. "Raja Jani," directed by Mohan Segal, went on to become the fourth highest-grossing film of that year.
Hema Malini and Dharmendra's love story is one of Bollywood's most celebrated, though unconventional. They met on the set of "Tu Haseen Main Jawan" in 1970 and their connection was immediate. However, Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur and had four children. Despite societal disapproval, Hema chose to follow her heart, marrying Dharmendra in 1980.
Hema Malini decided to live separately from Dharmendra out of respect for his first family. In her biography, "Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl," she explained that she "didn't want to disturb anyone" and was content with whatever Dharmendra did for her and their daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol. She also stated, "I am happy with whatever Dharamji did for me and my daughters".
Their marriage, though unconventional, has endured for decades, built on mutual respect, trust, and deep affection. Hema Malini has addressed the unique circumstances of her marriage with a pragmatic outlook, stating, "Nobody wants to live like this. But automatically, what happens, you have to accept. I am not sulking about it. I am happy with myself. I have my two children, and I have brought them up well".
Recently, fans have been lauding the enduring bond between Hema Malini and Dharmendra, especially after Dharmendra's recent hospitalisation. Dharmendra was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital due to breathlessness but has since been discharged.
