Image was Instagrammed by Hema Malini. (courtesy: dreamgirlhemamalini )
Veteran actress Hema Malini is one of the most celebrated heroines in the history of Indian cinema. Referred to as Bollywood's Dream Girl, Hema Malini has appeared in several cult classics over the years. Now, the teaser of an interview of the actress with Lehren features her talking about how she was once asked by a director to not pin her saree and allow the pallu or the loose end to slip down. She says in the short clip, "He (the director) wanted to shoot some kind of a scene. I always put a pin on my saree. I said, ‘Saree niche gir jayegi' (the pallu will slide down). They said 'that's what we want'.”
In the same clip, Hema Malini also revealed that she was offered Satyam Shivam Sundaram by Raj Kapoor. She added that the veteran filmmaker was aware of the fact that Hema Malini was unlikely to do the project but wanted her in the film, nevertheless. “He (Raj Kapoor) said this is such a film, you will not do it but I am keen that you do it,” she explains in the video, adding that her mother, who was also present at the meeting with Raj Kapoor, seconded Hema Malini's refusal. The role went on to be portrayed by Zeenat Aman and was met with tremendous success.
Meanwhile, Hema Malini also speaks about her husband Dharmendra and his role in parenting the couple's two daughters, Esha and Ahana. She says, “I have my two children, they are brought up very well and he (Dharmendra) is always there. That is the best part. Actually, he was worried about their weddings. ‘Shaadi hona chaiye bachchon ka jaldi (They should get married soon).' I said ‘Hoga (It'll happen).' When the time is right, the right person will come around. With the blessings of god and Guru Ma, everything happened.”
The interview comes at a time when the Deol family is under scrutiny following Hema Malini and her daughters' absence at Dharmendra's grandson Karan Deol's wedding. For context, Hema Malini is Dharmendra's second wife. He has four children, including actors Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, with his first wife Prakash Kaur. Karan Deol is Sunny Deol's son.
Following the no-show by Hema Malini, Esha and Ahana at the wedding, Dharmendra shared a rather cryptic post addressed to them. He said, “Esha, Ahana, Hema and all my darling kids …loving Takhtani's and Vohra's l love you and respect you all from the core of my heart…age and illness is telling upon me I could have spoken personally to you...but…”
Esha is married to Bharat Takhtani, while Ahana Deol is married to businessman Vaibhav Vohra.
Hema Malini is known for her work in films such as Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Dream Girl, The Burning Train, Satte Pe Satta and Johny Mera Naam, among others.