Dharmendra once bribed spot boys Rs 20 each on ‘Sholay’ sets, just to hug Hema Malini again, Dream Girl’s reaction was…

In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, we witness countless on-screen romantic pairings; while some fade away with time, others transcend from reel to real-life love stories, but there aren’t many stories that are as iconic as that of Dharmendra and Hema Malini. From creating a magic on screen to their real-life chemistry, their love story was a symbol of passion, persistence, and a bond that defied conventions.

A Hug Worth Rs 20

While there are many tales of their iconic love story, one of the beloved anecdotes from their journey comes from the making of Sholay in 1975. As per reports, Dharmendra would often find excuses to extend his scenes with Hema. During one particular sequence where his character, Veeru, teaches Basanti how to handle a revolver, he came up with a clever plan. For this scene, Dharmendra bribed the spot boys with Rs 20 each to deliberately “mess up” the take, ensuring he could hug Hema again when the scene was reshot. Understanding the assignment, the crew also played along with his little tricks; sometimes they would drop the reflectors or do some goof up so Dharmendra could hug the dream girl again and again. It’s said Dharmendra spent nearly Rs 2,000 on these playful interruptions. However, what was even more interesting was Dream Girl’s reaction; instead of being annoyed, Hema was reportedly charmed by his innocence and persistence, and that marked the beginning of their off-screen connection.

A Love with Challenges

However, their journey wasn’t without hurdles. Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur, who refused to give him a divorce. But Dharmendra, who was smitten by Hema, found a way out to give their love a name. In 1980, he allegedly made the unconventional decision to convert to Islam to marry Hema Malini legally. The couple tied the knot in a Nikah ceremony and later held a traditional Iyengar wedding to honuor Hema’s roots.

Dharmendra and Hema’s Love Story

Today, while Dharmendra and Hema Malini live in separate houses, their love and marriage still stand the test of time and all odds. The couple has two daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol, while Dharmendra also shares a deep bond with his sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, from his first marriage.