Hema Malini broke many hearts when she married Dharmendra in 1980. However, when Dharmendra and Hema Malini met, he was already married to Prakash Kaur and was the father of four children. Dharmendra's marital status was a huge roadblock to their happily-ever-after. Hema Malini's parents too were not in favour of her relationship with the actor.
According to Hema Malini's biography, Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl, the actor's father VS Ramanujam Chakravarthy had yelled at Dharmendra after he showed up at their doorstep, reported The Indian Express.
"Why don't you get out of my daughter's life? You are a married man, you can't marry my daughter," Hema Malini's father was quoted as saying.
Hema Malini's parents had reportedly arranged her marriage with Jeetendra, but it didn't materialise. The Indian Express report further stated that Dharmendra had "begged" Hema Malini to not commit the "mistake" of marrying Jeetendra.
As per the report, Jeetendra had told one of his close friends, "I [Jeetendra] don't want to marry Hema [Malini]. 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."
Jeetendra, who worked with Hema Malini in films such as Khushboo, Waaris, Jai Kaali, Dulhan, and Gehri Chaal. In fact, the trio even collaborated on Gulzar's Kinara, which starred Dharmendra in a special appearance. Jeetendra married producer Shobha Kapoor in 1974, six years before Hema Malini and Dharmendra got married.
In an earlier interview with Lehren Retro, Hema Malini spoke about her equation with Jeetendra. The veteran actor said she maintains a cordial relationship with him. "It happens in life. Never keep anything in your heart. You have to just forgive and forget. Aage badhte jaana hai na life mein...[You need to move on in life]."
Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema's most celebrated stars, died on Monday at the age of 89. He is survived by his wives Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini, his six children - Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta, Ajeeta, Esha and Ahana, and 13 grandchildren.