Dharmendra and Hema Malini are undoubtedly among the most famous and veteran couples Bollywood has seen. On Thursday, Dharmendra and Hema Malini celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary on May 2. To commemorate the occasion, Hema Malini posted a montage of nostalgic pictures on her Instagram account. Their daughter, Esha Deol, also shared a heartwarming post on her parents' anniversary. Bollywood's dream girl wrote, "Our wedding anniversary today!44 years of togetherness,2 beautiful girls,lovely gchildren surrounding us&drowning us with their love!Our fans &their limitless adulation! What more can I ask of life? Our eternal gratitude to the Almighty for this gift of happiness." Amid the romantic reminder, there is a less-known fact that Dharmendra and Hema Malini converted to Islam to marry each other.
Yes! you heard it right. Love blossomed between Dharmendra and Hema Malini during the shoot of the movie ‘Tum Haseen Main Jawan’ and they gradually turned into a real couple, while playing a reel couple. However, they kept their relationship a secret. In the meantime, 'dream girl' Hema Malini got marriage proposals from actors like Sanjeev Kapoor and Jitendra. However, she turned their marriage proposal down to be with 'He-Man' of Bollywood Dharmendra. However, there was a big problem for them to get married. Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur.
The Hindu Marriage Act did not allow a Hindu man to have two wives. While Dharmendra wanted to be with Hema Malini, he was also not ready to divorce his first wife Prakash Kaur. In contrast with the Hindu Marriage Act, the Muslim Personal Law allowed a Muslim man up to four wives. And this came as a solution for Dharmendra. In 1979, they converted to Islam and Dharmendra changed his name to Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn while Hema changed hers to Aisha Bi R Chakravarty. Finally, in 1980, Dharmendra and Hema Malini got married as Dilawar and Aisha. Three years later the couple started their family with Esha Deol and subsequently Ahana Deol.
Currently, Hema Malini is contesting Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Mathura Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket.