Veteran Bollywood superstar Dharmendra, who continues to rule millions of hearts globally, recently shared a poignant story about his very first love, a tale that predates his marriages and famous relationships.
Who Was Dharmendra's First Love?
Appearing on an episode of the Salman Khan-hosted show Dus Ka Dum with his son Bobby Deol, Dharmendra opened up about his school days in Punjab. He revealed that his first love was not co-star Meena Kumari, his first wife Prakash Kaur, or even his second wife Hema Malini. Instead, it was his school teacher's daughter, a girl named Hamida.
The Sholay actor recounted how he was completely mesmerised by her. Their innocent love story began when Dharmendra was in the 6th standard and Hamida was in the 8th, making her slightly older than him.
The Innocent School Days Romance
Dharmendra described a love that was felt deeply but never spoken aloud. "Hum man hi man mein kehte rehte the. Thandi aahen bharte rehte the. Samne wali ko maloom hi nahi tha," he shared, meaning they kept their feelings hidden in their hearts, sighing silently, while the other person remained unaware.
When Bobby Deol prompted him about a specific poem he had written for a 'very beautiful girl,' Dharmendra clarified it was a youthful infatuation. He set the scene, stating, "Main jab padhta tha, partition nahi hua tha — tab ki baat hai." This was from a time before the Partition of India had occurred.
He then recited the heartfelt poetry from his youth: "Main chhota tha, maasoom thi umar meri... Woh taliba thi aathvi ki, main chhathi ka tha. Hamare school teacher ki beti thi, naam Hamida tha." He expressed his innocent desire to simply be near her and sit beside her.
He painted a vivid picture of their shy interactions: "Yuhin muskura deti, main paas chala jaata. Woh khaamosh rehti, main sar jhuka deta. Woh poochti kuch aur thi, main keh kuch aur jaata tha." He would be drawn to her smile, but become shy and tongue-tied in her presence.
Hamida would often encourage him with his studies, saying, "Udaas mat ho, Dharam. Abhi waqt hai, tere imtihaan mein sab theek ho jaayega." After she would walk away, a confused Dharmendra would be left wondering, "Sawaal kya hai, yaar?"
The Tragic End of a First Love
This tender, unspoken romance met a sudden and historical end. With the India-Pakistan partition in 1947, their worlds were torn apart. Dharmendra succinctly stated the heartbreaking conclusion: "Pakistan ban gaya, Hamida chali gayi."
Dharmendra never saw Hamida again. However, he cherishes the memories of that pure and innocent love from his childhood, a bittersweet reminder of a time before fame and a life changed by history.
In other news concerning the beloved actor, Dharmendra has been admitted to a Mumbai hospital for some time. According to his family, he is currently under medical care and is on the path to recovery.
