Hema Malini
Indian actress, director, producer, and BJP politician from Mathura.
Hema Malini Dharmendra Deol (born 16 October 1948) is an Indian actress, director, producer, and politician. Primarily known for her work in Hindi films, she is one of the most popular and successful leading actresses of mainstream Hindi cinema, and has served as a member of the Lok Sabha from the Bharatiya Janata Party representing Mathura constituency since 2014.
- Born
- 16 October 1948
- Field
- Actress, director, producer, politician
- Nationality
- Indian
- Known for
- Leading roles in Hindi films; dual role in Seeta Aur Geeta (1972); political career as BJP MP from Mathura
Lore & Background
Hema Malini was born in a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family to Jaya Lakshmi and VSR Chakravarti Iyengar in Ammankudi, Madras Province (now Tamil Nadu). She made her acting debut in 1963 with the Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam and first acted in a lead role in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968), after which she was promoted as the 'Dream Girl'. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her dual role in Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) and was nominated ten more times leading up to Baghban (2003). She received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 and a Filmfare Special Award for 50 Years of Outstanding Contribution to Cinema in 2019.
Malini married Dharmendra on 2 May 1980 after meeting him at a film premiere in 1968; their first film together was Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970). They had two daughters, Esha Deol (born 1981) and Ahana Deol Vohra (born 1985). Dharmendra (born 8 December 1935) is still alive as of the current known canon. Malini has been involved with charitable and social ventures and is a life member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Reader's Guide
Hema Malini's significance lies in her dual career as a leading actress in Hindi cinema and a long-serving politician. As an actress, she starred in both comic and dramatic roles, earning critical acclaim for her double role in Seeta Aur Geeta and maintaining popularity across decades. Her pairing with Dharmendra produced 28 films, and she also directed and produced films such as Dil Aashna Hai and Tell Me O Kkhuda. In politics, she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2004, served as a nominated Rajya Sabha member from 2003 to 2009, and later as an elected MP from Karnataka from 2011 to 2012. Since 2014, she has represented Mathura in the Lok Sabha, winning re-election in 2019 and 2024 by large margins. Her legacy includes being honoured with the Padma Shri in 2000 and an honorary doctorate from Sir Padampat Singhania University in 2012. She also served as chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation and received the NTR National Award in 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hema Malini?
Hema Malini Dharmendra Deol is an Indian actress, director, and producer born on 16 October 1948. She is best recognized for her leading roles in mainstream Hindi-language films and has also served as a member of India's Lok Sabha.
What role made Hema Malini a household name?
Her 1972 performance in Seeta Aur Geeta, where she simultaneously played both the elder and younger sister, is widely regarded as her signature achievement. The dual casting became a landmark moment in Bollywood history and cemented her status as a top star.
What is Hema Malini's political career?
Since 2014 she has represented the Mathura constituency in the Lok Sabha as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. This made her one of the few major film stars to enter national politics in India.
Why is Hema Malini considered important in Indian cinema?
She is consistently listed among the most popular and commercially successful leading actresses in the history of Hindi film. Her career spanned decades of mainstream cinema, and her on-screen chemistry with co-stars like Dharmendra defined an era of Bollywood romance and adventure films.
What is Hema Malini's full name and birth date?
Her full name is Hema Malini Dharmendra Deol, and she was born on 16 October 1948. The surname Deol reflects her marriage to actor Dharmendra, with whom she also co-starred in numerous films.
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