Legendary actress and politician Hema Malini turned 76 today. On her special day, she looked back at her illustrious career and what it is to be called the ‘Dream Girl’ in an interview with us.
Hema Malini on turning a year older, “I want to do more for the country, it’s not enough to be a beautiful and admired celebrity”
Hemaji, is it a year older or a year younger? Age seems to be working in reverse for you
Is it? (laughs). Aisa kuch nahin hai. I am now past 70 and very proud and happy to acknowledge my age. I have nothing to hide.
How are you celebrating your birthday?
I like to celebrate my birthday with my family. Luckily this time I am home with the family and not travelling to my constituency (Mathura). We are celebrating with just a few friends. We’re not a filmy family at all. We don’t believe in pomp and show. So we don’t have the typical cake cutting, stuffing one another’s mouth with the cake and cameras clicking, and all that.
Indians all over the world still call you Dream Girl?
That seems like distant dream. Today when I look at my old films, I wonder if that beautiful girl on the screen is really me. I want to do more for the country. It’s not enough to be a beautiful and admired celebrity. It’s important to use that power for social good. Even my dance performances are for charitable causes.
Which of your films do you like?
Oh, so many. I like myself in Seeta Aur Geeta, Lal Patthar, Do Dishayen, Raja Jani, Baghban… there are so many!
Are you as happy as you look?
There is nothing like a perfect life. You have to take what you get and make the best of it. One doesn’t always get what one wants in life. When one is younger, one dreams of a perfect life, which doesn’t exist. I didn’t get everything that I wanted. But I never gave myself the opportunity to miss all the things that I didn’t have. I had my two beautiful daughters. Time just flew by as they grew up.
Your beauty is ageless, like Lataji’s voice
So sweet. Lataji has sung so many beautiful songs for me. I wish she had sung for me in Meera. It would’ve been a different experience. Anyway, no regrets in life…. Everything happens at the right time. If it doesn’t happen it wasn’t my meant to happen.
Would you consider Baghban a turning point in your career?
Oh yes! It had a deep impact on the joint family system. Baghban director Ravi Chopra wanted to remake the Clint Eastwood-Meryl Streep starrer The Bridges Of Madison County with me and Bachchan Saab. It’s very important to have someone of stature standing next to me. After Baghban, audiences wanted to see us together again. Couples of our generation have re-discovered themselves through Baghban.
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