Hema Malini Reflects on Life and Career

Leena Chandavarkar, a prominent Bollywood actress of the 60s and 70s, faced personal tragedy when she became a widow at 25, just 11 months after her marriage to Siddharth Bandodkar. Following her return to films, she married Kishore Kumar but experienced loneliness again after the marriage ended. In contrast, Hema Malini, known as the 'Dream Girl', navigated a tumultuous love story with Dharmendra, who was already married with children at the time. Despite familial opposition and societal scrutiny, Hema stood firm in her love for Dharmendra, marrying him in 1980 and having two daughters together. Hema has been open about her respect for Dharmendra's first wife, Prakash Kaur, and has maintained a strong sense of self and dignity throughout her journey in the film industry. Both actresses exemplify the complex interplay of personal sacrifice and resilience in the face of societal expectations.