Hema Malini

Biography

Hema Malini (born 16 October 1948) is an Indian actress, director, producer, and politician who is currently serving as a member of Lok Sabha representing the Mathura constituency since 2014 and a member of Rajya Sabha from Karnataka from 2011 to 2012 and nominated from 2003 to 2009 as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Primarily known for her work in Hindi films, she has starred in both comic and dramatic roles and is one of the most popular and successful leading actresses of mainstream Hindi cinema.

Malini made her acting debut in 1963 with the Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam. Malini first acted in a lead role in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968) and went on to feature in numerous Hindi films, frequently opposite Dharmendra, whom she married in 1980.

Malini was initially promoted as the "Dream Girl", and in 1977 starred in a film of the same name. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her dual role in the comedy Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) and was nominated ten more times leading up to Baghban (2003).

In 2000, Malini won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2019 Filmfare Special Award for 50 Years of Outstanding Contribution to Cinema.

Malini was honored with the Padma Shri in 2000, the fourth-highest civilian honor awarded by the Government of India. In 2012, Sir Padampat Singhania University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Malini in recognition of her contribution to Indian cinema.

Malini served as chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation. In 2006, Malini received the Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts (SaMaPa) Vitasta award from Bhajan Sopori in Delhi for her contribution and service to Indian culture and dance.

In 2013, she received the NTR National Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for her contribution to Indian cinema. Malini has been involved with charitable and social ventures. Currently, Malini is also a life member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Malini was born in a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family to Jaya Lakshmi and VSR Chakravarti Iyengar in Srirangam. She attended the Andhra Mahila Sabha in Chennai where her favourite subject was history. She studied at DTEA Mandir Marg until the 11th Standard after which she pursued her acting career.

Her first film with Dharmendra was Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970). The two got married in 1980. Dharmendra already had two sons and two daughters with his first wife Prakash Kaur, two of whom later became Bollywood actors – Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol.

Malini and Dharmendra have two children, Esha Deol (born 1981) and Ahana Deol (born 1985).

Madhoo Raghunath, who played the female lead in Phool Aur Kaante, Roja, and Annayya, is Malini's niece.

On 11 June 2015, Hema Malini became a first-time grandmother when her younger daughter, Ahana Deol gave birth to her first child, Darien Vohra. On 19 October 2017, she became a grandmother for the second time when her elder daughter, Esha Deol Takhtani gave birth to a girl, Radhya Takhtani.