Renowned writer and Jnanpith award winner Prativa Ray recently shared heartfelt memories of her encounters with the late actor Dharmendra, revealing his significant role in supporting Hema Malini's ballet adaptation of her celebrated novel 'Yajnaseni'. The esteemed author recalled how Dharmendra's encouragement played a crucial part in bringing the Draupadi-inspired performance to life.
The Beginning of Yajnaseni's Journey to Ballet
According to Ray, the journey began in 1998 when Hema Malini discovered the English translation of 'Yajnaseni' while browsing through a Mumbai bookshop. The actress immediately contacted Ray, expressing her strong desire to create a ballet performance based on the novel that reinterprets the Mahabharata from Draupadi's perspective.
"Hema Malini found my novel quite by accident during her book shopping expedition," Ray remembered. "She reached out to me directly, sharing her vision of transforming Yajnaseni into a ballet performance. This initial contact eventually led to detailed discussions about the script and music between myself, Hema Malini, and renowned music composer Ravindra Jain."
The Memorable Meeting with Dharmendra
The writer's first meeting with Dharmendra occurred in 1999 during one of her visits to Hema Malini's residence. Ray described how Hema Malini personally introduced them, sparking an immediate connection over literary and artistic matters.
"Dharmendra showed genuine interest in my novel and its themes," Ray stated. "He actively encouraged Hema Malini to pursue the ballet project, recognizing its artistic potential. His support at that early stage was significant and memorable."
A Decade Later Recognition
Ray met Dharmendra again approximately ten years later at a function in Bhubaneswar, where the actor demonstrated his remarkable memory and continued appreciation for the artistic project.
"What surprised me most was that he recognized me immediately and recalled our previous meeting at Hema Malini's house back in 1999," Ray shared. "Dharmendra praised Hema Malini's music and acting in the Draupadi ballet and mentioned that he had watched the performance multiple times, both in India and during international shows."
Ray described Dharmendra as exceptionally soft-spoken and cultured. "He was a genuine art lover who expressed deep appreciation for Odisha's traditional art forms and classical dance," she noted, highlighting his respect for regional cultural expressions.
The literary connection continued to strengthen over the years, with Hema Malini and her brother visiting Ray's Bhubaneswar residence eight years ago, further cementing the artistic relationship that began with a chance discovery in a Mumbai bookshop.
