Book review
Hema Malini, the quintessential ‘Dream Girl’ of Hindi cinema has truly nurtured a dream, and followed it to its realization. After being unceremoniously dropped from her first Tamil film as the director felt that she didn’t have ‘star quality’, Hema signed the Hindi film she was offered opposite Raj Kapoor. Just eighteen, she soon conquered the hearts of all moviegoers with her beauty, grace and charisma. From Johnny Mera Naam to Sholay, from Meera to Baghbaan, she has portrayed a diverse range of characters that will always remain a part of the film legend.
Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Sanjeev Kumar … she worked with all the leading stars, but it was with Dharmendra that the chemistry on screen was palpable. The special bond she shared with Dharmendra set the rumour mills buzzing but defying all conventions, Hema married her Jat hero in May 1980. Striking a perfect balance between her personal and professional life, Hema maintains a dignity about the little world she shares with daughters Esha and Ahana.
This intimate portrayal, the first authorized biography, by Bhawana Somaaya is a result of her long years of association with Hema as a film journalist and critic. Hema speaks to her more candidly than ever before about her life, with and without Dharmendra, her children, her mother and her twin passions of dance and acting.



About the author A writer-journalist and a film-critic, Bhawana Somaaya is the recipient of 1990's the Mahila Shiromani Award for her contribution in the field of journalism and her several prominent titles published over the years. She's contributed columns to Sunday Observer, Afternoon, Janmabhoomi Pravasi, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Pioneer and the Newstime. Author of some very well-known titles like Amitabh Bachchan – The Legend, Salaam Bollywood, Take-25, The Story So Far and Cinema: Images & Issues, Somaaya is currently the editor of Screen, the film weekly of the Indian Express Group.