Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On Her Birth Anniversary
शरीफों का ज़माने में
अजी बस हाल वो देखा
की शराफत छोड़ दी मैंने
शराफत छोड़ दी मैंने
शराफत छोड़ दी मैंने
मोहब्बत करने वालों का
यहाँ अंजाम वो देखा
की मोहब्बत छोड़ दी मैंने…
Hema Malini’s first commercial Hindi film “Sapno Ka Saudagar” directed by Mahesh Kaul, was opposite much elder Raj Kapoor-more than double her age .The film did not fair well at the box office & Raj Kapoor later expressed annoyance .”Rajja Chakoo Maar Doongi’, dialogue became popular as also two songs.”Tum Pyar Se Dekho Hum Pyaar se Dkehe’ & ‘Seekha Nahi Sabak toone Pyaar Ka’.The actress,on the contraray, seemed destineded to move into the Big League sooner or later.
Her next few films were average or above average-“Waaris”,”Jahan Pyaar Mile” & “Tum Hasin Main Jawan” opposite Dharmendra with a lovely number'”Aap Ko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai” rendered by Mohammed Rafi- Asha Bhosle duo. “Sharafat”(1970) also starring Dharmendra came like shot in the arm with another catchy & popular number rendered by Lata-“Sharifon Ka Zamane Main,Aji Bas Hal Vo Dekha, Ki Sharafat Chhod Di Maine”.It found a place in the top 10 list of Binace Geet Mala in 1970.Vijay Anand’s “Johny Mera Naam’ did wonders for many, more especially Hema Malini.It was a box office blockbuster with many hits like-“O Mere Raja, Khafa Na Hona, Der Se Aayi”( Kishor-Asha), “Palbhar Ke Liye Koi Hamen Pyar Kar Le” (Kishore-Usha Khanna) & the million dollar titillating nuber “Husn Ke Lakhon Rang” rendered by Asha Bhosle & picturised on Padma Khannan with Prem Nath shocking everyone on the sets during its picturisation. Dev Anand, I.S.Johar,& Pran completed the cast. Dev Anand & Hema literally sang and danced their way into the hearts of the younger section of the audience. Hema’s free, fun & frolics, including some scenes indoors and some outdoors in the song ‘Pal Bhar Ke Liye Koi Hamen Pyaar Kar Le Jhuthaa Hi Sahi’. Hema’s career was now on the right track and she was flooded with new assignments.
The actress worked in “Praya Dhan”, “Naya Zamana”,”Lal Patthar”, “Andaz” & “Tere mere Sapne’ in 1971 followed by “Raja Jani” & Ramesh Sippy’s ( of Sholay fame) “Seeta Aur Geeta” (1972), a story of twin sisters separated at birth. Hema Malini won her first & also the last Filmfare Best Actress Award of her film career. Dharmendra & Sanjeev Kumar played heroes. Pramod Chakravorthy’s “Jugnu”(1973) & Feroz Khan’s “Dharmatma” (1975) were other super-hit films, the former did wonders in Uttar Pradesh as viewers swarmed around the cinema halls like bees. Ramesh Sippy’s “Sholay” proved a blockbuster with a new face Amzad Khan rewriting history with his rustic style of dialogue delivery with a nonurban touch. Even after 41 years of its release, the characters and dialogues keep memories etched forever in your mind – like, “Kitne aadme the?” & “Gabbar: Jab tak tere pair chalenge iski saans chalegi”. Gabbar:”Yeh Ramgarh wale apni chokariyon ko kaun chakki ka aatta khilate hain??” & “Tera Kya Hoga Re Kalia”? It was declared the “Film of the Millennium” by BBC India in 1999 & also the highest grossing Indian film.
Hema worked with ‘Jaani’ Rajkumar in “Lal Patthar”(1971), “Kudrat”(1981), “Raj Tilak” (1984) & “Mohabbat Ke Dushman” (1988). With Rajesh Khanna she worked in many hits & blockbuster films like “Kudrat”, “Andaz”, “Rajput”,”Prem Nagar” & “Bandish” to mention some. “Mehbooba”,directed by Shakti Samanta, though critically well received, flopped at the box office front.The film had few lovely numbers like -“Parbat Ke Peechhe” ,& “Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon”.
Hema & Dharmendra did maximum films like ‘Sharafat’ & ‘Tum Haseen Main Jawan’ (1970) ‘Naya Zamana’ (1971) ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’ (1972), ‘Raja Jani’ (1972)’, ‘Jugnu’ (1973), ‘Patthar Aur Payal’ (1974), ‘Pratiggya’ (1975) ‘Sholay’ (1975) ‘Charas’ (1976) ‘Dream Girl’ (1977), ‘Chacha Bhatija’ (1977) ‘Dillage’, ‘Azaad’, ‘The Burning ‘Train’, ‘ Baghavat’ , Krodhi & ‘Rajput’ to mention some.Most of these were hits excepting “Razia Sultan” (1983) Aas Paas, Krodhi & Dillagi. Hema did ‘Sholay’, ‘Trishul’, ‘Naseeb’ and ‘Bagban’ (2003) with Bachchan. Gulzar’s “Khushboo” with Jeetendra ,Manoj Kumar’s “Kranti”(1981 )& “Amir Garib” with Dev Anand are her other mentionable movies.
Born in a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family to Jaya Lakshmi and VSR Chakravarti Iyengar in Srirangam, the ‘Dream Girl’ of Hindi films married co-star Dharmendra in 1980, though there were some others, too, in the race. Dharmendra, who had earned screen image of a ‘jilted’ lover or a ‘foredoomed’ lover was lucky enough to bait a big ‘catch’ like the doubly-gifted screen beauty. Blessed with two daughters, Hema Malini is presently an MP, Rajya Sabha since 16 May 2016.
Hema Malini, like most South Indian actresses, is a wonderful classical dancer and has won accolades worldwide .Like Rakha, Hema ,too, is defying age. She seems to be growing backwards which means that she has at least begun to feel that she has stopped growing old. Hema Malini & Ramesh Sippy attended the KBC show yesterday & they reminisced the events relating to the making of blockbuster “Sholay”. Born this Day in 1948.
