New Delhi: Charming and beautiful as ever, Hema Malini, the Dream Girl of Bollywood, continues to turn heads even now as she did at the peak of her acting career and popularity.
Hema, who celebrates her 58th birthday on Monday, is planning to have a small birthday party, organised by her daughter Aahna, for her family and friends as elder daughter Esha is away shooting in Cape Town and husband Dharmendra is in the US.
As an actor, the Basanti of Hindi films, has charmed millions over a nearly 40-year career with her spontaneous acting and vivaciousness.
A highly dedicated Bharatanatyam dancer, Hema made a comeback into films with the 2003 super-hit family drama Baghban as superstar Amitabh Bachchan's wife.
She has been flooded with film offers since and is working on two major projects - Hindi film Baabul and Bhojpuri film Ganga - opposite Amitabh.
She is also planning to direct a film with daughter Esha and Rekha, another Bollywood diva who turned 52 last week and whose charm abides even today.
Born in Tamil Nadu into a Brahmin Iyenagar family, Hema decided to try her luck in films after completing her education from the Andhra Mahila Sabha in Chennai.
But her beginnings in the world of films were disappointing as she was showed the door by Tamil director Sridhar, who felt her face lacked star appeal.
Jolted by the rejection, Hema took it as a challenge to make her mark in the profession at a bigger level and went to Mumbai to try her luck in Bollywood.
She landed her first role with none other than Raj Kapoor in the film Sapnon Ka Saudagar in 1968.
Though her debut movie did not do well at the box office, she was noticed and offered roles in movies like Jahan Pyar Mile and Waris in 1969, Aansoo Aur Muskan, Abhinetri and Anjana and Sharafat in 1970 before her first big break in the form of Johny Mera Naam in the same year with legendary actor Dev Anand.
The movie went on to become a huge hit and catapulted Hema in the top league of actresses. She became one of the most sought after in Bollywood with her applauding performances in Lal Pathar, Andaaz and Tere Mere Sapne.
She also formed a hugely successful pairing with Dharmendera, and the two gave a string of hits together - Naya Zamana (1971), Raja Jani (1972), Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Jugnu and Sholay to name a few.
The on-screen romance sneaked into their real lives too and Hema tied the knot with Dharmendra.
"Though I love Dharamji very much, it's my misfortune that he hasn't been with me to watch our daughters grow up, and to give me company. So, yes, I do miss a man by my side. But then I've so much to keep me occupied. There's hardly any time to feel lonely," she once said in an unguarded moment.
After playing glamorous roles in mainstream movies, Hema moved on to offbeat roles with Gulzar's Khushboo and surprised everyone with her superb performance.
"When I worked with Hema Malini, I realised she was a director's dream," Gulzar was quoted as saying about the actress who became a permanent fixture in his films then. He repeated her in Kinara, Ek Chadar Maili Si, Meera and Lekin.
Hema also tried her hand at direction with Dil Ashna Hai, starring Shah Rukh Khan, a newcomer then, and late actress Divya Bharati in the main leads.
From acting, dancing and directing, she slowly made her way to the corridors of power. She was nominated as Rajya Sabha Member by the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2003.
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