THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF

She was thrown out of a south indian movie by director Sridhar who told her she had no star quality in 1964.  Four years later she proved him wrong when she finally had a dream debut, in 1968, opposite an aging but potent star and filmmaker, Raj Kapoor.  With Sapno Ka Saudagar, Hema Malini burst across the Hindi cinema in a blaze of glory.  She was beautiful, at ease in front of the camera and full of attitude.  She held her own opposite the formidable Raj Kapoor.  It was because of the name of the movie that she was conferred the title of 'Dream Girl'.  And she has lived up to it.  She refuses to age and looks only better with each passing year.

THE ROARING SEVENTIES

She was blessed with the kind of looks that went well with both rustic and urban personas.  In 1970 she got to prove her versatility. In her first movie she wore ghaghra cholis of a village girl. She appeared in pantsuits and tight churidar kameez in movies like Tum Haseen main Jawan. This movie was the first of her many successful films with Dharmendra. There were several fast numbers in this trendy movie and she got to shake a leg with Dharmendra. In her next film Sharafat, she appeared as a nautch girl and got to showcase her dancing skills.  This movie was serious and there were some soulful songs here.  She was again paied opposite Dharmendra. Abhinetri paired her with another handsome actor, Shashi Kapoor.  This movie again had some good songs and showed her as a with-it girl who could carry off serious as well as romantic roles. Johnny Mera Naam with Dev Anand consolidated her viability at the Box Office.

In 1971 she carried on with the mixed bag of fun (Paraya Dhan with Rakesh Roshan and Balraj Sahni) and serious (Naya Zamana, Andaaz, Lal Pathar) roles.  1972 brought her a movie that showed everyone who the star was.  Seeta aur Geeta, for once the heros to her duplicate role (Sanjeev Kumar and Dharmendra) are reduced to side roles while the two Hema Malinis take centre stage in the action.  It won her the filmfare award and is still held up as an example of a fun packed film.

This was followed by several vapid roles as the feisty female in many movies.  More notable among them, Joshila, Jugnu, Gehri Chaal, Sharif Badmash, Raja Jani.  Here she was mainly the glamourous arm-candy of macho heros like Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Dev Anand.  It was the 1974 movie Dulhan directed by CV Rajendra that gave her a meaty role of a woman who has gone into shock and denial when faced by her husband's death on her wedding night.  The movie had some good songs and a good look at mental illness.  In the same year she worked for the first time opposite an upcoming actor called Amitabh Bachchan in Kasauti.  Her other roles in Amir Garib, Kehte Hain Mujhko Raja, Do Dost, Dharmatma were again decorative in content. 

In 1975 she worked for the first time with Gulzar in Khushboo, again a simple village girl in less makeup, simple sarees and sans the bouffant.  Her association with Gulzar was to fetch her the most accolades in her acting career.  The same year saw her paired again with Dharmendra in the ever popular Sholay.  Basanti and Dhanno (her horse) are iconic characters now.  She played a tangewali in the movie and she dances, chatters and pouts in the movie, stands up to the dreaded Gabbar Singh till her boyfriend comes blustering in to rescue her. 

1976 saw her in movies like Dus Numbari with Manoj Kumar, Charas with Dharmendra and Mehbooba with Rajesh Khanna.  Her on and off screen pairing with Dharmendra was quite popular and they appeared together even in 'special appearences' together, eg. a dance sequence in Swami.  Kinara (1977) saw Hema pairing with Gulzar once again for a sensitive movie that brought her acclaim again.  The delightful Palkon ki Chaon Me was written by Gulzar, but directed by his one time assistant Meraj.  It had Rajesh Khanna playing a village dakia (postman) 'Dakia daak laya' and falling for Hema who is waiting for her soldier boyfriend to return.  But Hema could not give up playing a glamourous girl either, and Dream Girl had her pairing with her favorite hero Dharmendra.  Dillagi had her in a deglam role with Dharmendra.  With Basu Chatterjee directing this venture, it was a surefire winner.

Hema was working at a breakneck space at the end of 70s.  She had 8 releases in 77, a mixed bag of low budget, high budget, glamourous, substantial, good and indifferent movies.  Trishul, Ratnadeep, Janta Havildar, Meera, looks like there was no genre that she could not try. This is the pattern she followed through her career, working in good, bad and indifferent films, at the rate of 4-7 movies a year, she chalked up an impressive filmography.

SLOW BUT STEADY 80s

She slowed down during the latter part of 80s.  She was married and having babies, and times were changing too.  Kranti Naseeb, Kudrat, Satte Pe Satta were some of her major films.  She replaced Meena Kumari in the heart of Kamal Amrohi in Razia Sultan.  The movie was not a hit, but is spoken well of among critics. Just working for Kamal Amrohi was an achievement for even an established star like Hema Malini. Among her critically acclaimed movies, Meera and Ek Chadar Maili Si stand out.  In Meera she portrayed the Rajasthani Princess/poetess.  She teemed up with Gulzar to bring this sensitive peice of cinema to life.  With Rajinder Singh Bedi directing Ek Chadar Maili Si she notched up her credibility as an actress once again.  The movie was a look into a custom of remarrying a window within the family to take care of her.  Alongwith the careers of Amitabh and Dharmendra, her career too slowed down during the latter part of the 80s. 

MOMMY !!!

She made a whammy comeback with Baghban as the beautiful wife of Amitabh, victimised by their grown up sons.  She works occasionally in roles of a mother these days.  To soon be seen in much awaited Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.

GOSSSSSIP

Her beauty was a sight for sore eyes, but her voice and diction was her drawback.  She never lost her south-indian accent and spoke with a breathless drawl.  It is a measure of her beauty and attitude that despite this glaring flaw, she ruled at the box-office for two full decades.  However, time and again, thanks to the mainly glamourous and vapid roles that she took on, she had to work in 'good' films to prove that she could act.

She had co-stars like Jeetendra and Sanjeev Kumar eating out of her hands.  These two men were supposed to have landed up at her place together with marriage proposals, but were both refused.  Defying her conservative mother and the societal norms, she chose to marry Dharmendra in 1981.  'He is a hero in real life too', she is supposed to have said about him.  They made a handsome pair and had two children together.  They had to convert to Islam to be able to marry as Dharmendra was already a married man.  Although they are living seperately, they do not admit to any rift between them.

She is supposed to be a big favorite with Dev Anand and Amitabh Bachchan too.  Her personal dignity has brought her huge respect in the film industry.

She is a trained classical dancer, and keeps herself fit and occupied running dancing schools and giving performances.

FILMOGRAPHY

• 141. Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) (post-production) .... Special Appearance (Dance)
• 140. Baabul (2006) .... Shobhna Kapoor
• 139. Ganga (2006) .... Thakurain Savitri V. Singh
• 138. Bhagmati (2005) .... Special Appearance (Dance)
• 137. Veer-Zaara (2004) .... Maati (Special Appearance)
• 136. Baghban (2003) .... Pooja Malhotra
• 135. Aman Ke Farishtey (2003)
• 134. Censor (2001) .... Radha (Vikramjeet's Wife)
• 133. Hey Ram (2000) .... Ambujam Iyengar
• 132. Himalay Putra (1997) .... Seema
• 131. Maahir (1996) .... Mrs. Kamini Rai
• 130. Aatank (1996) .... Jesu's girlfriend
• 129. Param Vir Chakra (1995) .... Mother
• 128. Vivekananda (1994)
• 127. Hai Meri Jaan (1991) .... Reshma
• 126. Jamai Raja (1991) .... Durgeshwari Devi
• 125. Sadhu Sant (1991)
• 124. Lekin... (1990) .... Tara (Guest Appearance)
• 123. Shadyantra (1990)
• 122. Paap Ka Ant (1989)
• 121. Desh Ke Dushman (1989)
• 120, Santosh (1989) .... Kavita
• 119. Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá (1989) .... Greta Saunders 'Geeta'
• 118. Deshwasi (1989)
• 117. Galiyon Ka Badshah (1989) .... Billoo
• 116. Rihaee (1988) .... Taku
• 115. Vijay (1988) .... Suman Y. Bhalla/Suman A. Bhardwaj
• 114. Mohabbat Ke Dushman (1988) .... Shamajaan
• 113. Mulzim (1988) .... Jailer Shardadevi
• 112. Kudrat Ka Kanoon (1987) .... Advocate Bharti Mathur
• 111. Jaan Hatheli Pe (1987) .... Mona
• 110. Anjaam (1987)
• 109. Apne Apne (1987) .... Seema R. Kapoor
• 108. Hirasat (1987)
• 107. Sitapur Ki Geeta (1987) .... Geeta Singh
• 106. Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986) .... Ranno
• 105. Babu (1985) .... Kammo
• 104, Hum Dono (1985) .... Lata
• 103. Yudh (1985) .... Nafisa Khatun
• 102. Ramkali (1985) .... Raksha Chouhan/Ramkali Chouhan
• 101. Aandhi-Toofan (1985) .... Sheela R. Singh
• 100. Durga (1985) .... Durga
• 99.  Phaansi Ke Baad (1985) .... Sapna
• 98.  Ek Nai Paheli (1984) .... M.K. Bhairavi
• 97.  Ek Naya Itihas (1984)
• 96.  Qaidi (1984) .... Dr. Sunita
• 95.  Raaj Tilak (1984) .... Roopa
• 94.  Ram Tera Desh (1984) .... Sunita
• 93.  Sharara (1984)
• 92.  Justice Chaudhury (1983) .... Radha Chaudhary (Ramu's mom)
• 91.  Nastik (1983) .... Gauri
• 90.  Andhaa Kanoon (1983) .... Inspector Durga Devi Singh/Shanti
• 89.  Razia Sultan (1983) .... Razia Bano
• 88.  Taqdeer (1983) .... Chandni
• 87.  Meharbaani (1982)
• 86.  Desh Premee (1982) .... Asha
• 85.  Rajput (1982) .... Janki
• 84.  Suraag (1982)
• 83.  Satte Pe Satta (1982) .... Indu R. Anand
• 82.  Baghavat (1982) .... Rajkumari Padmavati
• 81.  Do Dishayen (1982)
• 80.  Farz Aur Kanoon (1982)
• 79.  Samraat (1982) .... Jennifer "Jenny" Gomes
• 78.  Meri Aawaz Suno (1981) .... Mrs. Sunita Kumar
• 77.  Kudrat (1981) .... Chandramukhi/Paro
• 76.  Naseeb (1981) .... Asha
• 75.  Kranti (1981) .... Rajkumari Meenakshi
• 74.  Krodhi (1981) .... Phoolvati (Guest Appearance)
• 73.  Aas Paas (1981) .... Seema
• 72.  Dard (1981) .... Seema
• 71.  Jyoti (1981) .... Gauri
• 70.  Maan Gaye Ustad (1981)
• 69.  Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1980) .... Marjina
• 68.  Do Aur Do Paanch (1980) .... Shalu
• 67.  The Burning Train (1980) .... Seema
• 66.  Hum Tere Ashiq Hain (1979) .... Ramkali/Rajkumari Sanyogta
• 65.  Meera (1979) .... Meera Rathod
• 64.  Dil Kaa Heera (1979) .... Roopa 'Parirani'
• 63.  Janata Havaldar (1979)
• 62.  Ratnadeep (1979)
• 61. Trishul (1978) .... Sheetal Varma
• 60. Apna Khoon (1978) .... Geeta
• 59. Azaad (1978) .... Rajkumari Seema
• 58. Dillagi (1978) .... Phoolrenu
• 57. Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein (1977) .... Mohini
• 56. Chacha Bhatija (1977) .... Mala
• 55. Dhoop Chhaon (1977) .... Lajwanti "Lajjo"
• 54. Dream Girl (1977) .... Sapna/Padma/Champabai/Dream girl/Rajkumari
• 53. Khel Khilari Ka (1977) .... Shaki's Lutera's fan
• 52. Kinara (1977)
• 51. Shirdi Ke Sai Baba (1977) .... Pooja
• 50. Swami (1977) .... Nautanki dancer
• 49. Jaaneman (1976) .... Santho/Ram Kali/Bantho/Santho Singh
• 48. Mehbooba (1976) .... Ratna/Jhumri
• 47. Charas (1976) .... Sudha
• 46. Dus Numbri (1976) .... Sundari/Rosemary Fernandes
• 45. Aap Beati (1976) .... Geeta K. Kapoor
• 44. Maa (1976) .... Nimmi
• 43. Naach Uthe Sansaar (1976) .... Nanki Mehto
• 42. Sharafat Chod Di Maine (1976)
• 41. Sholay (1975) .... Basanti
• 40. Pratiggya (1975) .... Radha
• 39. Khushboo (1975) .... Kusum
• 38. Dharmatma (1975) .... Reshma
• 37. Do Thug (1975)
• 36. Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja (1975)
• 35. Sanyasi (1975) .... Aarti/Champa
• 34. Sunehra Sansar (1975) .... Savita/Rani Padmavati
• 33. Haath Ki Safai (1974) .... Kamini Chopra
• 32. Patthar Aur Payal (1974) .... Sapna Sinha
• 31. Kasauti (1974) .... Sapna
• 30. Prem Nagar (1974) .... Lata
• 29. Dost (1974) .... Kaajal 'Kaju'
• 28. Amir Garib (1974) .... Sunita/Soni
• 27. Dulhan (1974) .... Radha
• 26. Joshila (1973) .... Shalini
• 25. Jugnu (1973) .... Seema
• 24. Gehri Chaal (1973) .... Hema
• 23. Chhupa Rustam (1973) .... Ritu R. Jain
• 22. Prem Parvat (1973)
• 21. Shareef Budmaash (1973) .... Seema
• 20. Babul Ki Galiyaan (1972)
• 19. Bhai Ho To Aisa (1972) .... Roopa
• 18. Garam Masala (1972) (uncredited) .... Didi (Jugnu's Sister)
• 17. Gora Aur Kala (1972) .... Rajkumari Anuradha Singh
• 16. Raja Jani (1972) .... Shanno
• 15. Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) .... Seeta/Geeta
• 14. Tere Mere Sapne (1971) .... Maltimala
• 13. Andaz (1971) .... Sheetal
• 12. Lal Patthar (1971) .... Saudamani/Madhuri
• 11. Naya Zamana (1971) .... Seema Choudhury
• 10. Paraya Dhan (1971) .... Rajni
• 9.  Johny Mera Naam (1970) .... Rekha
• 8.  Aansoo Aur Muskan (1970) .... Radha/Girja
• 7.  Abhinetri (1970) .... Anjana
• 6.  Sharafat (1970) .... Chandni
• 5.  Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970) .... Anuradha
• 4.  Jahan Pyar Mile (1969)
• 3.  Waris (1969) .... Geeta
• 2.  Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) .... Mahi
• 1.  Pandava Vanavasam (1961/I) .... Dancer