In a poignant revelation from her biography, veteran actress and politician Hema Malini has shared a heartwarming chapter about her relationship with her late husband Dharmendra's family. The 'Dream Girl' recalled a secret and emotional meeting with Dharmendra's mother, Satwant Kaur, which offered her a sense of acceptance during a complex personal journey.
A Secret Visit of Blessing
The touching incident occurred after Hema Malini had given birth to her and Dharmendra's first daughter, Esha Deol. In her biography, Hema Malini: Beyond The Dream Girl, authored by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, Hema narrates how Satwant Kaur came to meet her at a dubbing studio in Juhu without informing anyone in the family. This clandestine visit held immense emotional weight for Hema, who was in a unique and often scrutinized marital arrangement.
"I touched her feet, and she hugged me and said, 'Beta, khush raho hamesha (Be happy always),'" Hema recounted. She expressed her happiness at receiving this warmth and blessing, stating it meant a great deal that they were happy with her.
Warm Bonds Beyond the Obvious
The kindness was not limited to Dharmendra's mother. Hema Malini also fondly remembered her father-in-law, Kewal Kishan Singh Deol, and his jovial bond with her own father, V.S. Ramanujam Chakravarthy. She shared an amusing anecdote about how Kewal would engage her father in arm-wrestling matches during his visits.
"After defeating them he would jokingly say, 'Tum log ghee-makkhan-lassi khao, idli aur sambhar se taqat nahi aati (Have butter, lassi, ghee. Idli and sambhar won't make you strong),'" Hema recalled, highlighting the light-hearted and affectionate dynamic between the families.
Navigating a Delicate Family Equation
Hema Malini and Dharmendra's marriage in 1981 was unconventional, as Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur and had four children. Hema maintained a respectful distance from Prakash Kaur's path after her marriage, a conscious choice she explained. "I didn't want to disturb anyone," she stated, adding that while she has never spoken to Prakash, she and her daughters respect her.
Reflecting on her life living separately from Dharmendra, who primarily resided with his first family, Hema admitted, "Nobody wants to be like that; it happens." She emphasized that every woman desires a normal family life but expressed contentment with her own journey, her successful career, and raising her two daughters well.
The perspective from Dharmendra's first wife, Prakash Kaur, has also been part of the narrative. In a 1981 interview with Stardust, while defending her husband against criticism, Prakash expressed a nuanced view. "I can understand what Hema is going through," she said, acknowledging Hema's challenges. However, she firmly added, "But if I were in Hema's place, I would not have done what she did. For, as a woman, I can understand her feelings. But as a wife and a mother, I do not approve of them."
These revelations, coming after Dharmendra's passing on November 24, 2025, paint a complex picture of love, family, and societal norms in the golden era of Bollywood. They underscore the personal compromises and silent understandings that often existed behind the glittering facade of stardom.
