Who is Dharmendra’s first wife Prakash Kaur who lived with him at Pune farmhouse in his last days, mother of Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta and Ajeeta

Who is Dharmendra’s first wife Prakash Kaur who lived with him at the Pune farmhouse in his last days, mother of Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta and Ajeeta

Dharmendra passed away today at the age of 89 at his Juhu bungalow, where he had been staying after a recent phase of treatment. His final months saw a series of health complications that began at his Pune farmhouse, continued at Breach Candy Hospital, and ended with his family bringing him home to Mumbai for recovery.

Dharmendra’s personal life has always carried a quiet, traditional chapter that existed long before the fame, the iconic films and the public scrutiny. At the centre of that chapter stands Prakash Kaur, his first wife, who remained a constant presence throughout his life and stayed with him during his last days at their Pune farmhouse.

Prakash Kaur married Dharmendra in 1954, when he was just 19 and yet to enter the film industry. The marriage was arranged, rooted in the customs of rural Punjab, and reflected the life he lived before cinema transformed him into one of India’s biggest stars. Back then, he was Dharam Singh Deol, a young man with simple ambitions and a family-first upbringing.

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The couple went on to have four children. Their sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, became major Bollywood actors, while their daughters, Vijeta and Ajeeta, maintained private lives away from the media. Those close to the family often describe Prakash as the person who held the household together during Dharmendra’s relentless rise in the industry. She created a home where ambition could flourish for some children and privacy could remain intact for others.

Dharmendra’s growing stardom brought new complexities. His on-screen pairing with Hema Malini in the 1970s turned into a real-life relationship, eventually leading to their marriage in 1980. Because he did not divorce Prakash, reports at the time stated that Dharmendra converted to Islam to legally marry again, a development that sparked intense public debate.

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Prakash Kaur, however, stayed consistently dignified. She avoided statements, controversies or public confrontations. In her rare interview decades later, she said Dharmendra “might not have been the best husband,” but remained “a wonderful father.” She spoke of Hema Malini without bitterness, acknowledging her talent and grace.

In late October, Dharmendra’s health worsened while he was at the Pune farmhouse. He was shifted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai for treatment, where he showed signs of recovery. The family then brought him back to his Juhu bungalow to rest in familiar surroundings. It was there, earlier today, that the legendary actor breathed his last, ending a life defined by stardom, resilience and complex personal ties — and through all of it, Prakash Kaur remained the unwavering pillar of his first family.