‘I cry watching our videos’: Hema Malini breaks silence on Dharmendra’s death, says ‘to see him sink was very difficult’

Hema Malini remembers Dharmendra. (Pic: Hema/Instagram)

Hema Malini and Dharmendra were the ‘it’ couple of Bollywood and later . In a recent interaction, Hema admitted that their companionship stood the test of time. The veteran star said she was in ‘inconsolable shock’ after Dharmendra passed away on November 24 at the age of 89. Hema shared that while Dharmendra was unwell, she and her family were rooting for him to recover, and they had even begun preparations for his 90th birthday.

Speaking to E Times, Hema called the time when Dharmendra was unwell “terrible” for the family. She admitted that for over a month, the family was trying to cope with whatever was happening at the hospital. “We were all there—I, Esha, Ahana, Sunny, Bobby—all together,” she said. However, she added that they were hopeful he would recover as, in the past, whenever he had fallen ill, he had always bounced back. “We thought iss baar bhi aa jayenge (We thought he will recover this time too),” she said.

She also dismissed rumours of rift between the two families that began after Prakash Kaur and her children, Sunny, Bobby, Ajitha and Vijeta, held a prayer meet for the late actor in Mumbai which was not attended by Hema and her daughters. She organised a separate prayer meet at the same time at her home.

Hema recalled how Dharmendra was talking well and even wished her on her birthday in October. Preparations for the actor’s birthday on December 8 were already in full swing. Hema admitted that seeing “Dharmendra sink” was personally very difficult for her. “Nobody should have to go through this kind of situation,” she said.

Hema also clapped back at fake content and videos circulating online that showed her crying with swollen eyes. She urged fans not to fall for such misleading visuals. Calling herself ‘strong’, she said, “I keep my emotions to myself.” She further shared that when her mother passed away 20 years ago, she wondered how she would live without her, but that experience ultimately made her stronger. “Life teaches us,” she said.

Hema also shared that everything around her carries memories of Dharmendra, even the food they eat. She recalled how thepla was prepared at her home and how it reminded her of her late husband and his fondness for eating it with chutney. “We have so many videos together, woh dekhke toh rona aa jata (I cry watching those),” she admitted.

In his later years, Dharmendra spent most of his time at his Lonavala farmhouse. During the conversation, Hema shared how he would bring three bottles of ghee for her and their daughters, Esha and Ahana. She revealed that Dharmendra would often stay at the farmhouse when she was not in Mumbai and was travelling to her constituency, Mathura. “Whenever I returned, he would come back and spend time with me at my house in Mumbai. That is how we have been happily living, along with our grandchildren,” she said. Hema also mentioned that Dharmendra would stay at their daughter Ahana’s house to spend time with her and his grandchildren. “It is very difficult to come to terms with this,” she said.

Hema further shared that she is resuming work and will be travelling to Mathura while also continuing her live classical dance performances, as she believes that would make Dharmendra happy. “That is what would make Dharamji happy,” she said. Hema described Dharmendra’s Lonavala farmhouse as a “mini Punjab” and revealed that Sunny Deol is planning to convert it into a museum.

Dharmendra was married twice. He first married Prakash Kaur when he was 19 years old, and the couple had four children — Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeta Deol and Ajeita Deol. He later married Hema Malini, with whom he had two daughters — Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.