Happy Birthday Hema Malini: Check out these lesser known facts of the Bollywood’s original Dream Girl

The Dream Girl of Bollywood, Hema Malini has turned a year older today. Fans and celebs have been pouring wishes for the actor on the internet. Her contribution to the Indian Cinema is commendable and the actor-turned-politician has always been in the news for her personal, political and social life. The actress is aging like fine wine and her Instagram photos are proof of the same.

She is known for her amazing performances in films such as Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Johny Mera Naam, Baghban and Dream Girl among others. For the unversed, Hema and Dharmendra are parents to daughters, Esha Deol (who is a Bollywood actress) and Ahana Deol. On her birthday, we have compiled some of her lesser-known and interesting facts about the actress.

1. Hema is apparently a dropout. Yes, she is 10th standard dropout as she always wanted to get into movies. However, in the year 2012, she received an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from Singhania University in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

2. Did you know Hema started her hindi acting journey opposite megastar Raj Kapoor in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968), however it failed at the box office. She was later signed for Johny Mera Naam and Tum Haseen Main Jawaan opposite Dev Anand and Dharmendra respectively and they were superhit.

 

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3. As per her autobiography ‘Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography’ she revealed that Jeetendra and Sanjeev Kapoor, two of the yesteryear superstars, approached her with marriage proposal.

4. As per her other biography named Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl, the veteran actress and actor Jeetendra almost got married, however, their wedding was halted when a drunk Dharmendra gate-crashed the venue to stop the marriage.

 

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5. When Dharmendra and Hema were dating, the former was already married and had four children. So, Hema and Dharmendra converted to Islam. Post conversion, Hema was named Aisha Bi R Chakravarty and Dharmendra was named Dilwar Khan.

6. Hema Malini met Dharmendra on the sets of Tum Haseen Main Jawan. They featured in around 40 films together.

 

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7. Did you know Hema Malini is just eight years elder to Sunny Deol, who is Dharmendra’s son from Prakash Kaur?

8. We have to thank Hema Malini for giving us superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Yes, she was the one who gave him the big Bollywood break after watching him in Fauji (TV Serial). Hema signed him for Dil Ashana Hai (1992) which was her directorial debut.

 

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9. Madhoo Raghunath, best known for her roles in Phool Aur Kaante, Roja and Annayya, is Malini’s niece.

10. Malini knows various Indian classical dance forms and owns the Natya Vihar Kalakendra dance school.

Also Read: Sholay reunion on KBC 13: Amitabh Bachchan says ‘shabash’ after Hema Malini mouths Jai and Veeru’s iconic dialogues