Dharmendra’s personal story didn’t begin under studio lights or in front of cameras, but in a quiet Punjabi household where traditions shaped choices. Long before he tasted fame, he married Prakash Kaur in 1954 at the age of 19. It was an arranged marriage, rooted in cultural customs, family values, and the life he lived before cinema came calling. At that time, he was far from being the star known as Bollywood’s “He-Man.” He was simply Dharam Singh Deol, earnest, humble, and ready to build a family.
Together, Prakash and Dharmendra welcomed four children. Their sons, Sunny and Bobby, grew up to become celebrated actors in their own right, carrying forward their father’s legacy in Hindi cinema. Their daughters, Vijeta and Ajeeta, chose quieter, private lives, staying away from the media glare. This contrast itself reflects the environment Prakash created: one where ambition and privacy could coexist, where public life and personal life had boundaries that were respected.
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As Dharmendra’s career rose, the demands of the film world changed the rhythm of their lives. His pairing with Hema Malini on-screen led to a connection that later became real and historic. Their marriage in 1980 became one of Bollywood’s most talked-about chapters, largely because Dharmendra was already a married man.
Reports suggested he converted to Islam to marry Hema without divorcing Prakash, a decision that ignited public debate and emotional speculation.
Yet Prakash Kaur’s quiet strength stood out. She did not make public statements to defend herself or to condemn anyone. In one rare interview, she spoke plainly: Dharmendra, she said, “might not have been the best husband,” but he was “a wonderful father.” It wasn’t resignation; it was clarity. She also spoke without resentment toward Hema Malini, acknowledging her beauty and grace in a way few expected.
Through changing dynamics, growing families, and decades of public scrutiny, Prakash Kaur stayed rooted in the life she built. She continued to be the emotional anchor of her household, surrounded by her children and later her grandchildren.
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