Shobhaa De, a prominent columnist and author, has recently shared her insights regarding the implications of Dharmendra’s death on Hema Malini’s position within the family. According to her, Hema Malini was “completely sidelined” by Dharmendra’s first family, which explains her absence from the prayer meet held in his memory. This gathering was organized by Dharmendra’s first wife, Prakash Kaur, along with their sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol.
In a conversation with journalist Barkha Dutt, De elaborated on the familial dynamics post the passing of Dharmendra. She expressed that being excluded from significant family events after dedicating 45 years to that family would have been particularly painful for Hema. De highlighted that Hema Malini, who shares two daughters with Dharmendra, chose to keep her feelings private while navigating this challenging period.
De emphasized Hema’s decision to forgo public displays of grief. Despite the opportunity to capture emotional moments for the media, Hema opted for dignity instead of what could have been perceived as “one-upmanship.” Shobhaa De pointed out that choosing not to “hijack” these moments reflects positively on Hema’s character, demonstrating her respect for both her personal feelings and the legacy of her late husband.
On November 27, a prayer meet was conducted for Dharmendra in Mumbai, which was attended by his first family. Hema Malini and her daughters, Esha and Ahana, did not participate in this event but instead held their own remembrance ceremony at home on the same day.
Dharmendra was married to Hema Malini in 1980, after his first marriage to Prakash Kaur in 1954, with whom he had four children. Their family tree includes Dharmendra’s sons Sunny and Bobby Deol, alongside daughters Vijeta and Ajeeta, as well as Hema Malini’s daughters Esha and Ahana.
The veteran actor passed away on November 24 at the age of 89, just days before his 90th birthday on December 8. Previously discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, he was recuperating at home before his death. His cremation took place in Mumbai on November 25, marking the end of a significant chapter in Indian cinema. Dharmendra’s last appearance on screen will be in the upcoming war drama “Ikkis,” featuring Agastya Nanda.