Hema Malini at 60: Anup Jalota says dance and Dharmendra made her life 'very interesting'
Synopsis
At a Mumbai event marking Hema Malini's 60 years in Indian cinema, singer Anup Jalota said no three-to-four-hour concert could capture her journey — one shaped equally by a devotion to Bharatanatyam that took her across the world and by a life shared with Dharmendra. At 77, she still performs on stage, a fact that sets her apart from virtually every peer of her era.
Key Takeaways
Anup Jalota paid tribute to Hema Malini at a celebration of her 60 years in Indian cinema, held on 10 July in Mumbai .
Jalota described Dharmendra and classical dance as the two elements that made Hema Malini's life 'very interesting.' Hema Malini made her Bollywood debut in 1968 opposite Raj Kapoor in 'Sapno Ka Saudagar' .
She has produced international Bharatanatyam ballet productions including 'Meera' and 'Ganga' , and continues to perform on stage at 77 .
Jalota performed two to three songs at the event tracing different phases of her life and career.
Veteran bhajan singer Anup Jalota paid a warm tribute to Hema Malini at a grand celebration marking her 60 years in Indian cinema, held on 10 July in Mumbai, describing how her devotion to classical dance and her life with actor Dharmendra together shaped one of Bollywood's most extraordinary journeys.
A Life Too Large for One Evening
Speaking to reporters at the event, Jalota reflected on the sheer scale of Hema Malini's career, noting that her story defies compression. 'There are so many songs and so many films. Her work is different, and then there is her classical dance. There are very few actresses who have taken classical dance across the world,' he said. He added that she has produced ballets such as 'Meera' and 'Ganga', rooted in Indian mythology and spiritual themes, calling her contribution to that field 'tremendous.'
Jalota was candid that even a full concert evening could not do justice to her legacy. 'Hemaji's journey is so long that it cannot be completed in a three-to-four-hour concert,' he observed.
Dharmendra's Role in Her Story
The singer also touched on how Dharmendra became an inseparable part of Hema Malini's life narrative. 'Along with that, Dharamji has joined her. Altogether, Hemaji's life is very interesting,' Jalota said. The two actors first met on set in the late 1960s and went on to co-star in a string of successful films, including 'Sholay', 'Dream Girl', 'Charas', 'Raja Jani', 'Jugnu', 'Azaad', and 'The Burning Train' — a pairing that remains one of Bollywood's most celebrated on-screen and off-screen romances.
Hema Malini: Six Decades on Screen and Stage
Fondly called the 'Dream Girl' of Bollywood, Hema Malini made her Hindi film debut opposite Raj Kapoor in the 1968 classic 'Sapno Ka Saudagar'. Over the next six decades she built a filmography that includes landmark titles such as 'Seeta Aur Geeta', 'Sholay', 'Dream Girl', 'Satte Pe Satta', 'Kranti', 'Trishul', and 'Baghban', cementing her place among Indian cinema's biggest female superstars.
Beyond acting, she has earned widespread recognition as a Bharatanatyam dancer, continuing to perform at stage shows even at 77. Her curated ballet productions, drawing on Indian mythology, have been staged internationally — a dimension of her career that many contemporaries never pursued.
What Jalota Will Perform
At the celebration, Jalota said he planned to trace different chapters of Hema Malini's life through music. 'We are singing two to three songs inspired by different moments of her life. We will try to make people enjoy those songs and give them a glimpse of her life's journey through our music,' he shared.
The event brought together several stalwarts from the entertainment industry to honour her contributions to films, dance, and Indian culture. As Hema Malini enters her seventh decade in public life, the evening underscored that her legacy spans far beyond the silver screen.
Point of View
Rarely sustained in practice. Hema Malini is a genuine exception: a mainstream superstar who built a parallel, internationally recognised career in Bharatanatyam rather than merely lending her name to it. That Anup Jalota chose to foreground this dimension — alongside the Dharmendra romance — signals how central both threads are to her public identity, even as mainstream coverage tends to reduce her to 'Dream Girl' nostalgia. At 77 and still performing, she may be the most underappreciated institution in Indian performing arts.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the occasion for Anup Jalota's tribute to Hema Malini?
The tribute was delivered at a grand celebration marking Hema Malini's 60 years in Indian cinema, held on 10 July in Mumbai. The event brought together several stalwarts from the entertainment industry to honour her contributions to films, dance, and Indian culture.
What did Anup Jalota say about Hema Malini and Dharmendra?
Jalota said that Dharmendra becoming part of Hema Malini's life, combined with her classical dance career, made her journey 'very interesting.' He described the two elements together as what gives her life story its remarkable variety.
What is Hema Malini's connection to classical dance?
Hema Malini is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer who has taken the art form to audiences across the world. She has curated and performed in ballet productions rooted in Indian mythology, including 'Meera' and 'Ganga,' and continues to perform on stage even at 77.
When did Hema Malini make her Bollywood debut?
Hema Malini made her Hindi film debut in 1968 opposite Raj Kapoor in 'Sapno Ka Saudagar.' Over the following six decades she appeared in landmark films such as 'Sholay', 'Dream Girl', 'Seeta Aur Geeta', and 'Baghban'.
How long have Hema Malini and Dharmendra been together?
Hema Malini and Dharmendra first met while working together in the late 1960s and went on to co-star in several successful films including 'Sholay', 'Dream Girl', and 'The Burning Train.' Their relationship is widely regarded as one of Bollywood's most celebrated romances.
