Hema Malini opens up on marriage with Dharmendra: 'don't feel bad about living separately'

Hema Malini has opened up on her marriage with Dharmendra. The veteran actor said that Dharmendra ‘has always been there’ for them.

In an interview with Lehren Retro, Hema was told that she has become a feminist icon of sorts because of her decision of staying in a separate house from Dharmendra and raising her children on her own.

She said, “Nobody wants to be like that; it happens. Automatically, what happens, you have to accept. 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.”

Hema said that Dharmendra was always there for the children. The Indian Express quoted her as saying, “Actually he was worried, ‘shaadi hona chaiye bachchon ka jaldi (The children should get married quickly).’ I said ‘Hoga (It’ll happen).’ When the time is right, the right person will come around. With the blessings of god and guru ma, everything happened.”

Hema and Dharmendra tied the knot in 1980. Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur with four children - Sunny, Bobby, Ajeeta and Vijeta. He has two daughters with Hema - Esha and Ahana.