Hema Malini was in Calcutta recently to launch her biography Beyond The Dream Girl, authored by Ram Kamal Mukherjee. The 241-pager, that was launched by Tolly star Rituparna Sengupta, traces the rise of the ‘Dream Girl’ and also takes a peek into her less-discussed private life, including her marriage with Dharmendra.
Just before the launch, t2 chatted with the 69-year-old actor-dancer-politician in the presidential suite at Novotel...
You mention in the book that when Ram Kamal Mukherjee came to you with the idea of a biography, you asked him, ‘You think people still want to read about me?’ With such a prolific career in so many fields, what made you think like that?
Hema Malini: I honestly felt that what’s there to write about me than what has already been written? Do book toh aa gaya (Hema Malini: The Authorised Biography by Bhawana Somaaya and Diva Unveiled by Ram Kamal himself). Nowadays, people are crazy about the youngsters. Then Ram Kamal told me that people still have a lot to discover about me.
Ram Kamal Mukherjee: Hemaji is actually so busy doing so much work that she mostly doesn’t realise that she’s doing so much. One needs to sit her down and tell her that she’s doing this, she’s achieving that… acting to politics, dance to social work to now managing her grandkids….
Hema: But then Jaya Bachchan also does that! Jayaji is a very good friend. She and Esha (Hema’s elder daughter) share a lovely bond.
Were there any apprehensions about opening up your life like this?
Hema: Initially, I felt I was opening myself so much. I asked him, ‘Is it necessary to put in all that?’ No one else has done it…
Ram Kamal: Everyone does it today, Hemaji…
Hema: Then why Jeetuji (Jeetendra) or Dharamji (Dharmendra) haven’t come up with a book… or for that matter, Rekha?
Ram Kamal: Rishi Kapoor and Shatrughan Sinha have…
Hema: Oh, Shatrughan Sinha ka aaya? Usne nahin diya mujhe! (Laughs)
Ram Kamal: I have known Hemaji for many years now. Over the years, she’s said a lot of things subconsciously that I’ve filed away in memory and used in the book. I want to give a lot of credit to her sister-in-law Prabha Chakravarthi who helped me with a lot of information.
The book is called Beyond The Dream Girl. But do you think that for a majority of your fans, you are still the ‘Dream Girl?’
Hema: Yes. Whether I like it or not, that will always be the case. Now I am a naani and not a girl anymore, but I am still known as that. When I was first given the title in Sapno Ka Saudagar (her Bolly debut opposite Raj Kapoor), I had no idea what it was. In fact, I was a little upset ki mera naam nahin aaya... pehle ‘Dream Girl’ aaya. I never realised it would stay with me for life. Even today, whenever I am in Mathura (her constituency), people call me ‘Dream Girl, Dream Girl’. They definitely see me as an artiste first, politician later. They want to hear Basanti dialogues from me. I shoo them down and tell them to hear my speech first. So they patiently hear for a bit… and then they want me to say some dialogues!
Before the book, not many would have known of the strong friendship that you and Dimple Kapadia share…
Hema: (Smiles) I acted in a lot of films with Rajesh Khanna… Kaka. So whenever there was any spare time at outdoor shoots, Dimple and I would spend time with each other. She would come to my room and we would chat for hours. Rajesh Khanna would have huge get-togethers with his friends every evening and poor Dimple would feel very lost. We are still very close friends. She also worked in my film Dil Aashna Hai.
You’ve had many landmark films in your career and in the book you speak extensively about Seeta Aur Geeta. Is that the film people remember you most for?
Hema: Yes… and Sholay. I signed a lot of films after Sapno Ka Saudagar, but none of them were big hits. Then Johnny Mera Naam (with Dev Anand) became a big hit, followed by Seeta Aur Geeta. It’s a film that gave me a lot of scope to perform… two different kinds of roles. Seeta Aur Geeta is a film that’s enjoyed by people of even this generation.
You mention in the book that Dharamji counts Ek Chadar Maili Si as his favourite Hema Malini film. Is that your favourite too?
Hema: Actually Dharamji was meant to do that film. He even acted in it with Geeta Bali. But she died and the film was shelved. Then when I signed the film, he wasn’t too happy. He told me, ‘Yeh kyun kar rahi ho? Mat karo’. He was a little superstitious about me doing it. That time I was expecting Ahana (younger daughter). I like that film… but I also think some other films of mine — Kinara, Khushboo, Meera, Lal Patthar —were equally good.
You’ve said that the greatest regret of your career is not being able to work with Hrishikesh Mukherjee…
Hema: Yes, he was probably the only director of the time I didn’t get to work with. He’s done so many films with Dharamji. I used to meet Hrishida on many shoots, but never got to work with him. Baaki sabke saath — Ramesh Sippy, Pramod Chakravorty, Gulzar saab, Dev Anand — maine bahut picture kiye, lekin unke saath ek bhi nahin.
Priyanka Roy
Pictures: Arnab Mondal
