Fragrance of Yesteryears: Hema Malini

This week in the spotlight for Fragrance of Yesteryears, we have someone who is not only an actress, but also a dancer, choreographer, director, producer, and a politician.

Published: Tuesday,Jul 09, 2013 07:12 AM GMT-06:00

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This week in the spotlight for Fragrance of Yesteryears, we have someone who is not only an actress, but also a dancer, choreographer, director, producer, and a politician. The legend is none other than Hema Malini. She was born in the Indian state of Madras on October 16, 1948 into a Tamil speaking family. She is the baby sister of two elder brothers.

Malini started off her on screen career in the 1968 blockbuster, Sapno Ke Saudagar, opposite Raj Kapoor. Her

breakthrough was in the 1970s, when she acted in numerous films like Johnny Mera Naam (1970), Andaz (1971), and Lal Patthar (1971). These movies gave her the extra edge among the actresses during the times because she took all challenging roles, like the widow in Andaz and a negative character in Lal Patthar. In 1977, she starred in a movie called Dream Girl, which went on to give her the nickname, "Dream Girl" of Bollywood.

During the mid-70s, when the Dream Girl gained the most success in Bollywood, she went on to do a couple more movies, namely Seeta Aur Geeta, Sanyasi, Dharmatma, and Pratigya. Another memorable role of Hema Malini was of "Basanti" from the 1975-hit movie Sholay. Then came a time in the same decade when Hema-Dharmendra starred in movies back to back, such as Sharafat (1970), Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970), Naya Zamana (1971), Raja Jani(1972), to name a few. Together the duo starred in 28 movies together, and Hema ended up marrying Dharmendra in 1980.

Post-marriage, Hema acted in Kranti, Naseeb, Satte Pe Satta, and Rajput. The newly wedded couple also continued to star in movies like Alibaba Aur 40 Chor, Baghavat, Samraat, and Razia Sultan. In 1992, Hema directed her first Bollywood film, Dil Aashna Hai, which failed at the box-office and brought her career tumbling down from there on.

After taking a long break from the Hindi cinema, Hema made a come back in 2003 in Baghban opposite Amitabh Bachchan. The following year, she played a cameo in Yash Chopra's Veer-Zaara. A few years later, she directed her second movie which starred, both her husband and daughter, Esha Deol, Tell Me O Khuda (2011).

Malini won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Seeta Aur Geeta in 1973 and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.

Did you know?

In 2003, Hema played the role of Goddess Durga in a Star Plus serial Jai Mata Ki.
She owns a dance school, Natya Vihar Kalakendra.
She has acted in over 150 films in a time span of about 40 years.
She has been nominated 11 times for the Filmfare Best Actress Award.

Writer: Fariha L.
Editors: Pooja B. & Hershi J.
Graphics: Saraa K.