Background and career
Hema Malini Dharmendra Deol (born 16 October 1948; Hindi pronunciation: [ɦeːmaː maːlɪn̪iː d̪ʱəɾmeːn̪d̪ɾə d̪eːoːl]) is an Indian actress, director, producer, and politician who is currently serving as a member of the Lok Sabha from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), representing Mathura constituency since 2014. She was a member of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka from 2011 to 2012, subsequent to her nomination to that chamber from 2003 to 2009 as a member of the 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 a Filmfare Special Award for 50 Years of Outstanding Contribution to Cinema. Malini was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2000, the fourth-highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India. In 2012, the 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 Ammankudi, Madras Province (now Tamil Nadu). She has two elder brothers. She attended the Andhra Mahila Sabha in Chennai. She studied at DTEA Mandir Marg until 11th standard, after which she pursued her acting career. She follows Hinduism. Mailni first met Dharmendra at a film premiere in 1968, their first film together was Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970) which marked their love story. They later married on 2 May 1980 having known each other for more than ten years and being in relationship for about six years. Dharmendra already had two sons and two daughters with his first wife Prakash Kaur, two of whom later became Hindi cinema actors – Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. Malini and Dharmendra had two daughters, Esha Deol (born 1981) and Ahana Deol Vohra (born 1985). Madhoo, who played the female lead in Phool Aur Kaante, Roja and Annayya, is Malini's cousin. Malini's father died in 1978 when she was 30 whereas her mother passed away in 2004 when she was 56. On 11 June 2015, Malini became a grandmother when her younger daughter, Ahana Deol Vohra, gave birth to her first child, a son, Darien Vohra and twin girls Astraia and Adea Vohra were born on 26 November 2020. On 20 October 2017, her elder daughter, Esha Deol, gave birth to a girl, Radhya Takhtani and another baby girl Miraya Takhtani on 10 June 2019. Businessman Vaibhav Vohra is her son-in-law and Bharat Takhtani is her ex-son-in-law. Malini's husband Dharmendra died on 24 November 2025 at the age of 89 following a period of brief illness. Their association lasted 57 years, including 45 years together in marriage until his death.
Malini played small roles in Pandava Vanavasam (1965) and Idhu Sathiyam (1962). In 1968, she was chosen to play the female lead opposite Raj Kapoor in Sapno Ka Saudagar and was promoted as the Dream Girl.
Malini played the lead in Johny Mera Naam (1970). Roles in subsequent films such as Andaz (1971) and Lal Patthar (1971) established her as a leading actress. In 1972, she played a double role opposite Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar in Seeta Aur Geeta, which earned her a Filmfare Best Actress Award for the film. Seeta Aur Geeta subverted the formula of Ram Aur Shyam, by the heroine Malini eventually becoming the "hero" while male lead Sanjeev Kumar and Dharmendra is in a mostly supporting role. Malini further established herself with successful films including Sanyasi, Dharmatma, Pratigya, Sholay and Trishul to name a few. Sholay received negative critical reviews and a tepid commercial response during its initial release. However, favourable word-of-mouth publicity helped it to become a box office success. It is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential Indian films of all time. Malini and Dharmendra have acted together in 28 films including Sharafat, Tum Haseen Main Jawan, Naya Zamana, Raja Jani, Seeta Aur Geeta, Patthar Aur Payal, Dost (1974), Sholay (1975), Charas, Jugnu, Apna Khoon, Azaad (1978) and Dillagi (1978). Malini's pairing with Rajesh Khanna was appreciated in Andaz and Prem Nagar. Andaz was a big hit and an important milestone in the career of Hema Malini as an actress. It features Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana, one of the best-known Bollywood yodels. Their subsequent films such as Mehbooba and Janta Hawaldar however, did not do well at the box office. Over the years, Janta Hawaldar has gained a cult following.
In the 1980s, Malini continued to star in big budget films such as Kranti, Naseeb, Satte Pe Satta and Rajput, most of whom proved to be successful at the box office. She continued to work in heroine-centric roles even after becoming a mother in films such as Aandhi Toofan, Durgaa, Ramkali, Sitapur Ki Geeta, Ek Chadar Maili Si, Rihaee and Jamai Raja. During this period, her films with Dharmendra included Alibaba Aur 40 Chor, Samraat, Razia Sultan, Baghavat, and Raaj Tilak. She continued to be paired with Rajesh Khanna in movies such as Dard, Bandish, Kudrat, Hum Dono, Rajput, Babu, Durgaa, Sitapur Ki Geeta and Paap Ka Ant, some of whom were major successes in her career. In 1992, she directed and produced the film Dil Aashna Hai, starring Divya Bharti and Shah Rukh Khan in the leading roles. She also directed and produced her second film Mohini in 1995, which starred her niece Madhoo and Sudesh Berry in the lead roles. She then focused on dancing and television work, only occasionally appearing in films. In 1997, she appeared in Vinod Khanna's production Himalay Putra.
After taking a break from films for a number of years, Malini made a comeback with Baghban (2003), for which she earned a Filmfare Best Actress Award nomination. It has gained cult status and emerged as the fifth-highest-grossing Indian film Reviewing the film Taran Adarsh stated, "Malini was elegant and conveys the pathos convincingly." Malini also made guest appearances in the 2004 film Veer-Zaara and the 2007 film Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, in addition to a supporting role in the 2006 film Baabul. In 2010, she acted in Sadiyaan alongside fellow veteran actress Rekha. In 2011, she directed and produced her third film Tell Me O Kkhuda which featured both her husband Dharmendra and her oldest daughter Esha Deol, which was a box office failure. In 2017, she appeared in the film Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi in the role of Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior, with Vinod Khanna playing her husband; however, it was Khanna's last film before his death. The film was directed by Gul Bahar Singh. The film was released on 21 April 2017. Her most recent film is Shimla Mirchi, starring Rajkummar Rao and Rakul Preet Singh. The movie was theatrically released in India on 3 January 2020 and made available on Netflix on 27 January 2020. In 2021, she was honoured with the Indian Film Personality of the Year Award at the 52nd International Film Festival of India.
