Dharmendra Bribed Spot Boys With Rs 20 For ‘Extra Hugs' With Hema Malini On Sholay Sets
During Sholay, Dharmendra reportedly paid spot boys to disrupt scenes while he was 'teaching' Hema Malini to use a revolver, just so he could hug her repeatedly.
When you talk about Bollywood romances that feel like they belong in a film script, Dharmendra and Hema Malini's relationship is one that refuses to fade away. Their love story had all the drama – star power, on-set sparks, whispers on the grapevine and a wedding that made headlines for years.
It's said the spark was lit in 1970 while filming Tum Haseen Main Jawan. Dharmendra, already a popular leading man, was drawn to the young actress known as the 'Dream Girl" of Indian cinema. On set, he was reportedly eager to spend more time with her and looked for small ways to make that happen.
By the time Sholay was in production in 1975, his love had only grown. Reports claim Dharmendra found a rather cheeky way to prolong certain scenes – by slipping spot boys money to cause 'accidental" delays. During one sequence where he was teaching Hema Malini how to use a revolver, he allegedly paid them Rs 20 each time to drop a reflector or disrupt the trolley so he could hug her again. The same reports suggest he spent around Rs 2,000 on these interruptions and Hema was charmed by the effort.
Their relationship, however, wasn't without complications. Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur, who was reportedly unwilling to grant him a divorce. Determined to be together, the two chose a path that shocked many at the time – converting to Islam in 1980 so they could marry. Dharmendra took the name Dilawar Khan, while Hema became Aisha Bi. They had a private Nikah ceremony, followed by a traditional Iyengar wedding to honour Hema's roots.
Dharmendra First Wife
Dharmendra married his first wife, Prakash Kaur, in 1954 at the age of 19. They have four children: sons Sunny and Bobby Deol, both actors, and daughters Vijeta and Ajieta. With Hema Malini, he has two daughters – Esha and Ahana Deol.
Hema Malini And Dharmendra Relationship
Hema Malini once opened up about her unconventional marriage with Dharmendra in a 2023 interview with Bharathi S Pradhan for Lehren Retro. She had said, 'Nobody wants to be like that; it happens. Automatically, what happens, you have to accept,' she said in the interview. Otherwise nobody will feel like they want to live their life like this. Every woman wants to have a husband, children, like a normal family. But somewhere, it went out of the way… I am not feeling bad about it, or sulking about it. I am happy with myself. I have my two children, and I have brought them up very well."
About Sholay
Sholay, released in 1975, remains one of Indian cinema's most iconic films and is celebrating 50 years in 2025. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the action-drama follows two ex-convicts, Jai and Veeru, hired by a retired policeman to capture the ruthless dacoit Gabbar Singh. Known for its unforgettable dialogues, stellar performances by Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and Amjad Khan, and a perfect blend of action, emotion, and humour, the film redefined Bollywood storytelling. Even after half a century, Sholay continues to be loved across generations, its characters and scenes etched into pop culture.
First Published:
August 10, 2025, 08:41 IST
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Dharamji, did you ever expect Sholay to be such a milestone in your career? No, I didn't. Of course, we worked very hard on the film. The shoots on the outskirts of Bangalore were gruelling. There were no hotels around. We had to drive down to the location 50 kilometers away from Bangalore every day. But it was a lot of fun. Lots of memories. Hema was there with me. Jaya was there; she was expecting her first child. What was Sanjeev Kumar like as a co-star? He was exceptional in every sense. What a human being and what an actor! I had the privilege of working with him in another exceptional film, Satyakam, where we played friends. Satyakam or Sholay, which is your preferred film? That is very hard to answer. Hrishida (Mukherjee) and Ramesh Sippy were very different directors. It is like comparing Lata Mangeshkar with Asha Bhosle. Does Sholay's magnitude of success surprise you? I will tell you one thing. In 1975, just two months before Sholay, I had another release which no one is talking about. I love Dulal Guha's Pratiggya the most because it was a really tough role. I had to play a truck driver who masquerades as a cop. It was like playing a role within a role. It was a layered character with lots of emotions and drama. I had made to make people laugh all the way. But there was an undercurrent of emotions. It was a challenge. And people loved me in it. So, is Pratiggya a bigger personal favourite? Though Satyakam and Sholay are among my favorites, my all-time favorite is Pratiggya. It came during the same year 1975 as Sholay, so it went unnoticed. But let me tell you, Pratiggya was a super hit in spite of competition from Sholay. Just like in 1971, when Naya Zamana clicked despite a blockbuster like Mera Gaon Mera Desh. They were such different films. I am very fond of Naya Zamana because it was based on Bengali literature .The film had beautiful dialogues. Bachchan Saab says you recommended him for his role in Sholay? (laughs) It is sweet of him to remember. Yes, I did put in a word for him to Ramesh Sippy. But he finally got the part on merit. Also Read | Sholay turns 50: Thakur's consuming obsession with vengeance destroyed so much and yielded so little Bachchan Saab wanted to play Gabbar Singh. Did you also want that part? No, I was very happy playing Veeru. It is the part that chose me , more than I chose it.
