The recent passing of legendary actor Dharmendra has reignited public interest in his personal life, which was as discussed as his iconic film roles. A significant chapter involves his marriage to actress Hema Malini in 1980, while he was still married to his first wife, Prakash Kaur, with whom he had four children: Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Ajeita, and Vijeta.
Prakash Kaur's Public Defense of Dharmendra
The union with Hema Malini sparked considerable backlash. However, in a surprising turn, it was Dharmendra's first wife, Prakash Kaur, who publicly took a stand for him. In an interview with Stardust magazine at the time, she addressed the controversy with notable grace and candor.
She acknowledged, "Dharmendra is not a perfect husband, but he is a wonderful father." Speaking about Hema Malini, she said, "Hemaji is very beautiful; any man could be attracted to her." She even added, "Why only my husband? Any man would have preferred Hema over me."
Kaur strongly opposed those who labeled the actor a womanizer. "How dare anyone call my husband a womaniser when half the industry is doing the same thing?" she questioned. She reiterated, "He may not be the best husband, though he is very good to me, but he is certainly the best father. His children love him a lot. He never neglects them."
Hema Malini's Philosophy of Respect and Distance
On her part, Hema Malini consistently spoke about maintaining a respectful distance from Dharmendra's first family. She never interfered with his commitments to them or tried to change the living arrangements he maintained with Prakash Kaur and their children.
In a 1999 conversation with Simi Garewal, Hema explained her stance. "You love a person so much, and you get so much love from that person—so how can you torture that person for such petty things?" she reasoned. "I never irritated him or troubled him. I understood his problem. When I give so much, I get so much."
When asked if she felt any bitterness or jealousy towards Prakash Kaur, she replied, "Not at all. That’s why I’m the happiest person today. What is the point of torturing someone you love?"
A Life of Dignity and Separate Worlds
In the biography Hema Malini: The Dream Girl by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, she reflected further. "I didn’t want to disturb anyone. I am happy with whatever Dharamji did for me and my daughters. He played the role of a father, like any father would," she said.
She emphasized her respect for Prakash Kaur, stating, "I have maintained my dignity because I devoted my life to art and culture. Though I have never spoken about Prakash, I respect her a lot. Even my daughters respect Dharamji’s family."
Despite their homes being just minutes apart, Hema and Prakash led separate lives and never interacted. A rare, fleeting moment of contact occurred in 2015. Esha Deol, Hema and Dharmendra's daughter, visited Dharmendra's ailing brother, Ajit Singh Deol. There, she unexpectedly met Prakash Kaur. Esha later shared in the biography, "She blessed me and I walked away."
The dynamics within Dharmendra's family present a complex narrative of love, respect, and personal boundaries in the face of public scrutiny. The dignified positions taken by both Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini highlight a unique understanding that defined this aspect of the late actor's life.
