In a heartfelt post on social media, veteran talk‑show host Simi Garewal has brought back memories of one of Bollywood’s most famous love stories, that of Hema Malini and Dharmendra. Following the actor’s recent passing, Garewal shared a vintage clip from Rendezvous with Simi, featuring Malini candidly recalling how her romance with Dharmendra unfolded, and why she chose to stand by him.
In her post, Simi Garewal lauded Hema Malini’s “selflessness and grace,” calling her decision courageous, especially in times when most women would avoid marrying a married man. She hoped that revisiting this story would bring comfort to Malini in her grief. She wrote, “I watched our Rendezvous again recently to revisit the Hema-Dharam love story. It was poignant & it was courageous, considering the circumstances. Marrying a married man is not an option most women of today would settle for. But having chosen to follow her love, Hema-ji handled the relationship with a rare degree of selflessness & grace. Today, she must feel a great sense of loss without him. I hope the happy memories will comfort her & fill the void.”
In the interview clip, Hema Malini revealed that she first met Dharmendra at a film premiere and was struck by his charm. “I met him for the first time at the premiere of one of the films. I thought I had never seen such a handsome man in my life. And later, I heard him saying the same thing about me.” She said.
Simi Garewal also asked Hema Malini if she had ever tried to resist her feelings for Dharmendra, knowing he was already married. She replied, “In the beginning, I never bothered. Somewhere in my mind, I used to think, ‘If I ever marry, I must marry somebody like him.’ Not him, but somebody like him.”
The Dreamgirl added, “He constantly used to tell me that he loved me a lot, and I would just say, “Okay, okay,” without giving much importance to it, knowing the consequences.” When asked about what made Hema finally accept the relationship. “It was destiny,” Hema said.
“We were together for so long, and then suddenly thinking of marrying someone else just didn’t feel right. So one day, I called him and said, ‘You have to marry me now.'”
He said, “‘Yes, I’ll marry you.’ And that’s how it happened.”
Hema also expressed why she always kept out of Dharmendra’s family affair with his first wife and family. “I never tried to compete with his other family for his time or attention, not at all. In love, you are supposed to give, not demand. When you love a person so much, and you also receive so much love from them, how can you torture someone for small, petty things?”
She added, “That’s the reason I never bothered, never irritated him, never put pressure on him. I wanted the love to continue. And that’s how it still is today; we love each other so much, nothing can come between us. I understand his problems, and I adjust everything according to him, because of which he loves me even more.”
The actress said, “When you give so much, you receive so much. That is love; you must give respect to the love you have.”
Also Read: Mathura village organises 'terahvin' for late actor Dharmendra
For those unfamiliar, the love story of Dharmendra and Hema Malini is regarded as one of Bollywood’s most iconic romances. The two celebrated stars first met in the early 1970s while working together, and their on-screen chemistry gradually grew into a profound personal connection. Despite facing intense societal scrutiny and strong opposition from both families, the couple eventually tied the knot in 1980. At the time, Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur and was the father of four children: Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Ajeta Deol, and Vijayta Deol.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
