Hema Malini on first meeting Dharmendra: 'Never seen such a handsome man'
Synopsis
In a rare candid moment on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, Hema Malini admitted she had never seen a man as handsome as Dharmendra when they first met at a film premiere — and that resisting his persistent charm while shooting back-to-back films together proved, in her own words, quite natural to give in to.
Key Takeaways
Hema Malini first met Dharmendra at a film premiere and said she had 'never seen such a handsome man' in her life.
She revealed the encounter on Simi Garewal's show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal .
Hema described Dharmendra as 'a very loving, affectionate, soft-spoken person' — qualities she said she always sought.
She noted that long, continuous shooting schedules together made emotional closeness 'quite natural'.
The pair starred together in iconic films including Sholay , Dream Girl , and Seeta Aur Geeta .
Hema Malini once revealed that her very first glimpse of Dharmendra left her awestruck — a candid admission she made during an appearance on Simi Garewal's celebrated chat show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. The actress, who would go on to become one of Bollywood's most iconic couples alongside Dharmendra, described the encounter as a moment she could not easily forget.
The First Impression
When Garewal asked Hema where she had first met Dharmendra and what she had thought of him, the actress did not hold back. Hema Malini recalled meeting him at the premiere of a film, and the impact was immediate.
'I met him first at the premiere of one of the films. And I felt, I thought I had never seen such a handsome man in my life, you know. So handsome he was, so good looking, and I heard him saying the same thing about me. And then I got the opportunity to work with him and others,' she said.
What Drew Her Closer
Garewal then pressed further, asking what appealed to Hema once she began working with Dharmendra. The actress described qualities that went beyond his famous looks. 'He's a very loving, affectionate, soft-spoken person. These are the qualities I like. I was working with so many heroes, but I always used to look forward to somebody like him,' she said.
The pair went on to collaborate on several blockbusters, including Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Dream Girl, Azaad, Dillagi, and The Burning Train — a body of work that cemented their status as Hindi cinema's most beloved on-screen pair of their era.
How Dharmendra Won Her Over
On the question of what finally made her say yes to Dharmendra, Hema offered a candid and warm account of how the actor — popularly known as the 'He-Man of Bollywood' — persistently expressed his feelings. She recounted that she would often brush off his declarations, never giving him what she called 'a lift', fully aware of the complications involved.
'He used to say that he loves me a lot. I used to say, okay, okay. I never used to give him much, what do you call, a lift. Knowing the whole consequences. Well, it's difficult for a girl to resist so much charm,' she said. She also noted that the natural proximity of long shooting schedules — often two to three shifts a day, both in Mumbai and on outdoor locations — made emotional closeness almost inevitable. 'Naturally, working with the same person... it is quite natural to get involved,' she added.
A Love Story Etched in Cinema History
The relationship between Hema Malini and Dharmendra has remained one of the most talked-about romances in the history of Indian cinema. Their chemistry on screen translated into a partnership off it, and their story continues to draw curiosity from fans and film historians alike. The Rendezvous interview remains one of the most cited sources for Hema's own words on the subject — unscripted, warm, and remarkably candid for its time.
Point of View
But frames the relationship as something that grew organically out of proximity and shared work. In an era when celebrity relationships were managed far more carefully, that frankness was — and remains — disarming. The more interesting question mainstream coverage rarely asks is what it reveals about the power dynamics of 1970s Bollywood, where long outdoor schedules and limited personal agency for actresses shaped personal lives as much as professional ones.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Hema Malini's first impression of Dharmendra?
Hema Malini said she had never seen a man as handsome as Dharmendra when she first met him at a film premiere. She recalled thinking he was 'so handsome, so good looking' and later heard that he had said something similar about her.
Where did Hema Malini reveal her feelings about first meeting Dharmendra?
She made the revelation on Simi Garewal's talk show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, one of Indian television's most celebrated celebrity interview programmes. The interview has remained a widely referenced account of their relationship.
What qualities did Hema Malini say she liked in Dharmendra?
Hema said she was drawn to Dharmendra's loving, affectionate, and soft-spoken nature. She noted that while she worked with many leading heroes, she always looked forward to someone with those qualities.
How did Dharmendra win over Hema Malini?
According to Hema, Dharmendra repeatedly expressed his love for her, though she initially kept him at a distance. She credited their continuous work together — long shooting shifts in Mumbai and on outdoor locations — as the factor that made emotional involvement 'quite natural.'
Which films did Hema Malini and Dharmendra do together?
The pair starred in several hit films including Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Dream Girl, Azaad, Dillagi, and The Burning Train, making them one of the most successful on-screen pairings in 1970s Hindi cinema.
