In the vibrant world of Bollywood during the 1970s and 1980s, few love stories were as tumultuous and captivating as that of Hema Malini and Dharmendra. The actress, known for her enchanting beauty and charisma, was at the center of a dramatic love triangle that almost led her down a different path with co-star Jeetendra.
Hema Malini married Dharmendra in 1980, but this union was fraught with challenges.At the time of their relationship, Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur and had four children. Hema’s parents, Jaya Chakravarthy and V.S. Ramanujam Chakravarthy, were staunchly against their daughter’s involvement with a married man. In an attempt to steer her away from Dharmendra, they even arranged a potential marriage between Hema and Jeetendra, who was also a leading actor of that era.
Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s love blossomed on the sets of their films, where they often spent time together. However, Jaya Chakravarthy grew increasingly concerned about their relationship. In 1974, she convinced Hema to meet Jeetendra’s family in Madras for what was supposed to be a wedding arrangement. Jeetendra himself was not particularly keen on marrying Hema; he confided in a friend, “I don’t want to marry Hema. I am not in love with her. She is not in love with me. But my family wants it, so I might as well. And she is such a good girl.”
As plans for the wedding progressed, news leaked out about the impending nuptials. On the day of the ceremony, Dharmendra crashed the wedding venue alongside Shobha Sippy, his then-girlfriend. Upon seeing Dharmendra at their doorstep, Hema’s father shouted at him: “Why don’t you get out of my daughter’s life? You are a married man; you can’t marry my daughter”. This dramatic confrontation underscored the emotional turmoil surrounding Hema’s choice.
After being confronted by her father, Hema stepped out to address both families. She requested some time to think things over. However, Jeetendra’s family grew impatient and left in anger after giving her an ultimatum. Meanwhile, Dharmendra’s feelings deepened; he found himself begging Hema not to make what he termed a “big mistake” by marrying Jeetendra.
Despite his heartfelt pleas, Dharmendra did not marry Hema that day. Instead, he became increasingly insecure about their relationship, imposing restrictions on her and even resorting to alcohol to cope with his paranoia, as per Malini’s biography.
Eventually, after much emotional upheaval on May 2, 1980, they finally tied the knot in a traditional ceremony.
Veteran Actress Hema Malini’s Fiery Response to Fan; Netizens Slam Her As ‘Rude’