On her 69th birthday, Bollywood’s dream girl chats exclusively with The Quint about being a beauty queen, birthday plans this year and celebrations gone by, as well as her latest birthday gift.
Q: How do you plan to spend your birthday this year?
Hema Malini: I’ve never been a birthday person. Cutting cakes makes me very embarrassed. But what to do? Earlier, during my days of hectic shooting, a cake would be carted in the middle of shooting with all my co-stars and technicians singing. Now, it’s family and friends. This time my birthday is special, as my biography is being released. And 50 of my colleagues will be speaking about me. I hope at least some of them would have nice things to say about me.
Q: At 69, we’re hoping you’ll finally reveal the secret behind your beauty and radiance.
Hema Malini: (peals of laughter) Radiance and beauty? Thank you. But it’s well-wishers, supporters like you and fans who have kept me going for so long without stopping. You know, until recently I had never thought of myself as beautiful! I still believe there are many women far more beautiful than me in the country. But now I’ve started believing I am not so bad either. I would look at pictures of myself from 30 years ago and cringe. But now I can look at old pictures of mine with more confidence, and say, ‘kuch toh baat hai, varna itne dinon tak main kaise tik paayee hoon?’ (There must be something about me, otherwise how would I have possibly survived in the industry for all these years?)
Q: Waah, Your Hindi doesn’t have a Tamil touch at all!
Hema Malini: (Pretends to be offended) What do you mean? Meri Hindi bahut shuddh ur spasht hai (My Hindi is very pure and clear). Of course, there would be a flavour of your place of origin. Your native tongue should and must remain a part of your expression. I am very proud of the Tamil tinge in my Hindi.
Q: Coming back to your beauty secret...
Hema Malini: (straightway without a thought) Good clean honest living. I’ve always been a very straightforward and blunt person. That trait has got me into a lot of trouble, especially since my political career began. But I don’t regret calling a spade a spade. I’ve never believed in hiding the truth from myself or from others. Because you lie once, you go on lying to cover up for that one lie. Too much stress. I never wanted it, never opted for it. All you need to do is look at any situation without fear or misgivings.
Q: You are a role model to many women. Who are your role models?
Hema Malini: Vyjanthimala. Without a doubt she has been the greatest influence on my life and career. From the beginning, I modelled my career on her footsteps as a Bharat Natyam dancer and an actress. She has crossed 80 but her energy level is still unflagging. Besides Vyjanthimala, my mother was my biggest influence. When she was alive she took all the decisions.
Q: Tell us about your biography...
Hema Malini: I was not even aware that Ram Kamal Mukherjee was writing it. In fact, he had written a coffee table book on me fifteen years ago and surprised me with it. I had no idea he was writing that book either. When I saw it, I was very pleased. It had rare lovely pictures of me. The foreword to that book was written by Amitabh Bachchan ji. Now after 15 years, so many things have happened to my life, especially politics and I am also a grandmother now. So I think another book is a good idea.
Q: How did the idea of the Prime Minister writing the foreword for you book come about?
Hema Malini: Ram Kamal just came to me and said he has written a book about my life and would our prime minister Narendra Modi ji write a foreword? It was very simple. I just had to ask him. He wanted details about the book and its content. That was it. I must say, it was very kind and generous of him.
Q: What according to you is the most important factor in a woman’s career?
Hema Malini: A supportive family, especially a supportive husband. You can’t be an achiever if your husband is over-conservative, narrow-minded and jealous of your success.
Q: But your husband, Dharmendra ji, could hardly give you that support, as he had two families to take care of?
Hema Malini: But he never stopped me from doing anything. He encouraged me to always follow my dreams and fulfil my ambitions. Even today, when I achieve something, he is the proudest. Sometimes, not having a spouse breathing down your neck is also very inspiring.
Q: What is your advice to people who look up to you?
Hema Malini: Follow your dreams. Never say ‘no’ to any opportunity. Think positive. And don’t bother with what your neighbour is doing. I never looked at the competition around me. For me, my career, my family and my life are all that mattered.
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