Date of Birth
16 October 1948, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
Birth Name
Hema Malini R. Chakravarty 
Nickname
Dream GirlHeight
5' 6" (1.68 m)Mini Biography
Hema was born in the Tamil-speaking Chakravarthy household on October 16, 1948 in Ammankudi, Tamil Nadu. Her dad's name is V.S.R. Chakravarthy and her mom, Jaya, was a film producer. She was enrolled in the Chennai-based Andhra Mahila Sabha.
After performing as a dancer in a 1961 regional movie, she was rejected by Tamil Director, C.V.Sridhar, during 1964 when she first attempted to act, on the grounds that she was too thin to be heroine in Venniradai and the role went to Venniradai Nirmala. Later Hema performed in the song Singara Therukku Selai sung by Seergazhi Govindrajan and L.R.Eshwari as a supporting actor from the 1963 Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam starring S.A.Asokan as the hero. Sridhar was proved wrong when Hema persisted, debuted opposite Raj Kapoor in 'Sapnon Ka Saudagar' just 4 years after her rejection but the movie was a flop.
Thereafter there has no been looking back for this attractive Libran, who went to star in close to 155 movies; who also produced and directed two movies, and also directed a TV serial 'Noopur'.
After turning down marriage proposals from Sanjeev Kumar and Jeetendra, she met with hot fellow actor, Dharmendra, both were attracted to each other and wanted to get married. Dharmendra, who was already married to Prakash Kaur, and had two sons, Sunny and Bobby, could not marry Hema as Prakash refused to divorce him. According to the Hindu Marriage Act, a Hindu cannot marry a second time while the first wife is still alive. Dharmendra belongs to a Arya Samaj Hindu Punjabi Jatt family.
She had a hit on-screen pairing with Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor and Dev Anand in the 70's and, post-marriage, she had 8 hits opposite Rajesh Khanna in 1980-87. Interestingly Rajesh Khanna-Hema Malini pair had 2 hits in early 70's and then 3 unfortunate flops in late 70's after which pair was written off but in eighties they gave 8 blockbusters as a pair. In all Hema has 10 hits with Rajesh Khanna. After 2000, her pairing with Amitabh became popular.
On August 21, 1979, both Hema and Dharmendra converted to Islam, changed their names to Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty and Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn respectively, and got married in accordance with Islamic rites. Three years after their marriage, Hema subsequently gave birth to Esha and then later to Ahana. Esha is an actress in her own rights. The trio, well proficient in the arts of Bharatnatyam dance form, have performed together at a number of dance events and concerts.
Hema is a member of the right-winged Bharatiya Janata Party, and became a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
She was amongst the first actresses to wear bell-bottom and shirts in Hindi movies, and is also amongst the few who have kept their word of not wearing any revealing outfits in public. Hema, who is also called 'Dream Girl' continues to act in movies, with her latest being 'Baabul' in 2006.
After performing as a dancer in a 1961 regional movie, she was rejected by Tamil Director, C.V.Sridhar, during 1964 when she first attempted to act, on the grounds that she was too thin to be heroine in Venniradai and the role went to Venniradai Nirmala. Later Hema performed in the song Singara Therukku Selai sung by Seergazhi Govindrajan and L.R.Eshwari as a supporting actor from the 1963 Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam starring S.A.Asokan as the hero. Sridhar was proved wrong when Hema persisted, debuted opposite Raj Kapoor in 'Sapnon Ka Saudagar' just 4 years after her rejection but the movie was a flop.
Thereafter there has no been looking back for this attractive Libran, who went to star in close to 155 movies; who also produced and directed two movies, and also directed a TV serial 'Noopur'.
After turning down marriage proposals from Sanjeev Kumar and Jeetendra, she met with hot fellow actor, Dharmendra, both were attracted to each other and wanted to get married. Dharmendra, who was already married to Prakash Kaur, and had two sons, Sunny and Bobby, could not marry Hema as Prakash refused to divorce him. According to the Hindu Marriage Act, a Hindu cannot marry a second time while the first wife is still alive. Dharmendra belongs to a Arya Samaj Hindu Punjabi Jatt family.
She had a hit on-screen pairing with Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor and Dev Anand in the 70's and, post-marriage, she had 8 hits opposite Rajesh Khanna in 1980-87. Interestingly Rajesh Khanna-Hema Malini pair had 2 hits in early 70's and then 3 unfortunate flops in late 70's after which pair was written off but in eighties they gave 8 blockbusters as a pair. In all Hema has 10 hits with Rajesh Khanna. After 2000, her pairing with Amitabh became popular.
On August 21, 1979, both Hema and Dharmendra converted to Islam, changed their names to Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty and Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn respectively, and got married in accordance with Islamic rites. Three years after their marriage, Hema subsequently gave birth to Esha and then later to Ahana. Esha is an actress in her own rights. The trio, well proficient in the arts of Bharatnatyam dance form, have performed together at a number of dance events and concerts.
Hema is a member of the right-winged Bharatiya Janata Party, and became a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
She was amongst the first actresses to wear bell-bottom and shirts in Hindi movies, and is also amongst the few who have kept their word of not wearing any revealing outfits in public. Hema, who is also called 'Dream Girl' continues to act in movies, with her latest being 'Baabul' in 2006.
Spouse
| Dharmendra | (2 May 1980 - present) 2 children |
Trivia
Mother of Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. Step-mother of Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. Daughter of Jaya Chakravarthy.
The second South Indian actress after Vyjayanthimala to become a major Hindi film star. Ironically, Hema's career almost ended before it began. Her first director threw her out of a Tamil film he was directing, saying she had no star appeal. Hema resolved she would make it big where it mattered the most: Bollywood.
Hema Malini began her film career opposite Raj Kapoor in Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) where she became labeled the "Dream Girl". She had a glorious reign as a leading actress during the 70's, even winning the Filmfare Best Actress award for Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), but in the early 80's, she decided to concentrate on 'character' roles, often those with feminist undertones.
In the book "Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography," (2007) she revealed that both actors Jeetendra and Sanjeev Kumar proposed marriage to Hema, but it was Dharmendra, with whom she formed a hugely successful on-screen couple, that won her hand in the end. She defied the conventional norm at the time by becoming his second wife and continuing to work after having children.
In an effort to re-establish herself as a classical dancer (she is an expert Bharatnatyam dancer), she directed TV serials such as "Noopur"(1990) and "Women of India" in 1996.
Hema Malini was awarded the 'Padma Bhushan' in 1999 for her contribution to Indian Cinema.
Born in the village Ammankudi, located in the District of Trichy, Tamil Nadu, to V.S. Ramanujam Chakravarti and Jaya Chakravarti.
Set up a Natya Vihar Kalakendra, an institution dedicated to create, spread and present the age old Indian mythological themes from the epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and other ancient scriptures through the medium of dance.
In 2003 was nominated to the Rajya Sabha (Parliament of India), serving on the Committee of External Affairs as an MP. In 2004, actress-turned-politician Hema formally joined the BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party).
Served as Chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) from 2000-2003.
Converted to Islam, changed her name to Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty, and married Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn Deol alias Dharmendra on August 21, 1979.
Rajesh Khanna-Hema Malini pair had 2 hits in early 70's, but due to 3 failures in the 1975-1970 period, the producers were reluctant to cast them as a pair. After Hema got married, her only box office hits in the eighties were opposite Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra only. Hema Malini had 8 blockbusters opposite Rajesh Khanna as a pair in the 1980's Bandish, Kudrat, Dard, Rajput, Hum Dono, Babu, Sitapur Ki Geeta and Durgaa where Khanna had special appearance.
Hema Malini had 6 hits of the 11 she did opposite Jeetendra from 1970-87.
Hema Malini was highest paid Hindi actress along-with Zeenat Aman from 1976-1980 and 2nd highest paid Hindi actress with Zeenat from 1982-85 and 4th highest paid Hindi actress from 1971-1975.
Hema performed in the song Singara Therukku Selai sung by Seergazhi Govindrajan and L.R.Eshwari as a supporting actor from the 1963 Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam starring S.A.Asokan as the hero.
Personal Quotes
My interest was dance and, in the beginning, I didn't enjoy acting at all. It was my mother who brought me into films and who looked after my career. I remember each time a producer came to meet her, my only reaction was, 'Oh God, another year of my life gone.'
I became famous with audiences and various producers thanks to Jhony Mera Naam and Andaz. I remember how difficult it was to shoot for the song Zinagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana because Kaka's fans would turn up in heavy numbers wherever he went. I am very lucky to have done 15 films with the superstar and to have 10 commercial hits with him.