Hema Malini
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| Hema Malini in 2025 | |
| Born | 16 October 1948 (age 77) Ammankudi, Madras Province, India (now Tamil Nadu) |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Andhra Mahila Sabha, Chennai |
| Alma mater | DTEA Mandir Marg |
| Occupation | Actress, Dancer, Politician, Director, Producer |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Known for | Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Baghban |
| Notable works | Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Dream Girl, Baghban |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2000) Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1999) |
| Spouse(s) | Dharmendra (m.1980) |
| Parents | Jaya Lakshmi (mother) VSR Chakravarti Iyengar (father) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Website | See below |
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, filmmaker, and politician. She has been a Member of Parliament from Mathura since 2014, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier, she served in the Rajya Sabha from 2003 to 2012. Known as Bollywood’s “Dream Girl”, she became one of the most popular and successful actresses in Hindi cinema, acting in both comedy and drama films.
She began her career with the Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam (1963) and got her first lead role in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968). She acted in many hit films, often opposite Dharmendra, whom she married in 1980. Her performance in Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She later received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and a special award for 50 years in cinema.
Hema Malini was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2000 and has received several other awards for her contribution to Indian cinema and culture. She has also been active in social and charitable work and is a life member of ISKCON.
Early Life & Education
Hema Malini was born on 16 October 1948 in a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family to Jaya Lakshmi and VSR Chakravarti Iyengar in Ammankudi, Madras Province (now Tamil Nadu). She studied at Andhra Mahila Sabha in Chennai and later at DTEA Mandir Marg School, completing her education up to the 11th standard before starting her acting career. She follows Hinduism.
Her first film with Dharmendra was Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970), during which their relationship began. The two married in 1980. Dharmendra had four children from his first marriage, including actors Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. Hema Malini and Dharmendra have two daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.
Career
Hema Malini began her career with small roles in Pandava Vanavasam (1965) and Idhu Sathiyam (1962). She rose to prominence after being cast opposite Raj Kapoor in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968), which launched her as Bollywood’s “Dream Girl.” Through the 1970s, she established herself as a leading actress with hits like Johny Mera Naam (1970), Andaz (1971), Lal Patthar (1971) and the blockbuster Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She went on to star in many successful films including Sanyasi, Dharmatma, Pratigya, Sholay, Trishul and worked extensively with Dharmendra in 28 films, as well as with Rajesh Khanna in several notable projects.
In the 1980s, Malini continued her commercial success with major hits like Kranti, Naseeb, Satte Pe Satta and Rajput. Even after becoming a mother, she appeared in strong heroine-centric films such as Aandhi Toofan, Durgaa, Ramkali, Ek Chadar Maili Si and Rihaee. She also collaborated frequently with Dharmendra and Rajesh Khanna during this period.
Malini later expanded her work behind the camera, directing and producing Dil Aashna Hai (1992) and Mohini (1995). She then shifted focus to dance and television, appearing occasionally in films like Himalay Putra (1997). Her major comeback came with Baghban (2003), followed by roles in Veer-Zaara (2004), Baabul (2006), Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007), Sadiyaan (2010) and her directorial project Tell Me O Kkhuda (2011). She later appeared in Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi (2017) and Shimla Mirchi (2020). In 2021, she received the Indian Film Personality of the Year Award at the International Film Festival of India.
Political Career
Hema Malini first became active in politics in 1999 when she campaigned for BJP candidate and actor Vinod Khanna during the Lok Sabha elections. She officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2004. From 2003 to 2009, she served in the Rajya Sabha after being nominated by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. She was later appointed as a general secretary of the BJP in 2010.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Malini won the Mathura seat with a large margin against Jayant Chaudhary. She again won the Mathura constituency in 2019, defeating Kunwar Narendra Singh by nearly 3 lakh votes. In 2024, she secured her third consecutive victory from Mathura, winning by a huge margin against Congress candidate Mukesh Dhanger.
Other Works
Dance
Hema Malini is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. Her daughters Esha and Ahana are trained in Odissi, and the trio have performed together in the stage production Parampara at several charitable events. They also performed together at the Khajuraho Dance Festival.
Malini learned Kuchipudi from Vempati Chinna Satyam and Mohiniattam from Kalamandalam Guru Gopalakrishnan. She has portrayed roles such as Narasimha, Rama, Sati, Parvati, and Durga in various dance dramas. In 2024, she played Sita in a special Ramayana theatre performance for the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya.
She runs the Natya Vihar Kalakendra dance school. In 2016, a PIL questioned the allotment of land for her dance academy, but the Maharashtra government informed the court that Malini had not accepted the allotted plot.
Television
Hema Malini has directed and produced several Doordarshan serials, including Terah Panneh, Rani Laxmibai, Bharti, and Noopur. She has also hosted Rangoli on Doordarshan.
She acted in shows like Jai Mata Ki (1999), where she played Goddess Durga, and appeared in Kamini Damini, in which she played twin sisters. She also featured in the series Yug, based on India’s freedom struggle.
Production & Promotional Work
Malini was the editor of the women’s magazines New Woman and Meri Saheli. She became the first female chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation in 2000.
She has been a brand ambassador for Kent RO Systems and for Pothys, a textile brand in Chennai.
Artistry
Hema Malini is regarded as one of the finest actresses of Hindi cinema, known for her versatility, dance skills, beauty, and iconic screen presence. She was among the highest-paid actresses of the 1970s and early 1980s and topped Box Office India’s “Top Actresses” list multiple times.
Her performances in Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, and many other classics are frequently listed among Bollywood’s most iconic roles. Filmfare, Rediff, Outlook India, and other publications have consistently ranked her among the greatest actresses of all time.
Her fashion, especially her 70s style with polka-dot blouses, has also been widely celebrated.
Legacy
Hema Malini is widely recognized as Bollywood’s “Dream Girl”, a title that became part of her cultural identity. Critics have praised her screen presence, charm, elegance, and long-lasting influence in Indian cinema. She is seen as a style icon, a pioneer for women in mainstream cinema, and a role model for many actresses.
She has received several honours, including the FICCI Living Legend Award, ANR National Award, Rajinikanth Legend Award, and international recognitions for her global presence.
Her life and career have been documented in multiple biographies, including Diva Unveiled (2005), Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography (2007), and Beyond the Dream Girl (2017).
Notable Works
Malini’s body of work spans cinema, dance, television, and stage performances. In films, she is remembered for iconic roles in Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Dream Girl, Satte Pe Satta, Jugnu, Khushboo, and Meera, which established her as one of Hindi cinema’s most versatile and influential actresses. Beyond films, her acclaimed dance productions such as Parampara and her performances at prominent festivals like the Khajuraho Dance Festival further strengthened her reputation as an accomplished classical dancer. Her television direction and production ventures, including Noopur, Kamini Damini, and Jai Mata Ki, also added to her diverse creative portfolio.
Achievements and Recognition
Malini has received widespread acclaim throughout her career and is regarded as one of Indian cinema’s finest performers. She topped Box Office India’s “Top Actress” list multiple times between the 1970s and 1980s and has been included in numerous “greatest actresses” rankings by Filmfare, Rediff.com, Outlook India, and other media outlets. She has been honoured with prestigious awards such as the Rajinikanth Legend Award, the Rajiv Gandhi Award, and the ANR National Award. Internationally, she was recognised as the “International Personality of the Year” at the Asian Achievers Awards. Tributes to her legacy include a special retrospective at the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival and multiple published biographies documenting her career and cultural impact.