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    EYE ON BOLLYWOOD                                                         JUNE 05, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 43

                                                                 HEMA MALINI

                      After 60 Years in Bollywood, the

              “Dream Girl” Still Captivates India

                 Six decades after entering cinema, Hema Malini continues to command admiration

                  across generations through her elegance, humility and enduring cultural presence.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            also honor the legendary actor post-
                                                                                                                  humously, adding a personal and his-
            Mumbai
                                                                                                                  torical dimension to the celebration.
                n an industry known for constant                                                                  Chawla explained that the concert is
                reinvention and fleeting stardom,                                                                 being organized “in memory of Dha-
            IHema Malini’s continuing rele-                                                                       ram ji” as well, while also function-
            vance after 60 years in cinema stands                                                                 ing as a charity initiative supporting
            out as a rare achievement. The up-                                                                    FWICE and CINTAA, organizations
            coming “Hema Malini Live-in Con-                                                                      connected  to  film  industry  workers
            cert” in Mumbai on July 10 is not                                                                     and artists.
            merely a celebration of longevity. It                                                                     That charitable dimension  is
            is a reflection of how one actor has                                                                  revealing. It reflects how Hema Ma-
            remained deeply woven into India’s                                                                    lini’s image today extends beyond
            cinematic and cultural imagination                                                                    stardom into institutional respect-
            across generations.                                                                                   ability and cultural stewardship. The
                The scale and emotion surround-                                                                   effort to “give something back to the
            ing the event underline Hema Mali-                                                                    industry,” as Chawla said, reinforces
            ni’s unique position in Indian public                                                                 the idea of Hema Malini and Dhar-
            life. Actors, musicians and television                                                                mendra as figures larger than cinema
            personalities speaking to ANI de-                                                                     alone.
            scribed her not only as a legendary                                                                       The timing of the celebration
            performer but also as an enduring                                                                     also  carries  symbolic  weight.  Just
            symbol of grace, discipline and dig-                                                                  days earlier, Hema Malini received
            nity. Their recollections reveal why                                                                  the Padma  Vibhushan  on  behalf  of
            the actress-politician still holds an                                                                 her late husband Dharmendra at
            almost unmatched emotional con-                                                                       Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Presi-
            nection with audiences decades af-           Hema Malini receives Padma Vibhushan award to legendary actor    dent Droupadi Murmu presented
            ter becoming Bollywood’s original    late Dharmendra from President Droupadi Murmu presents at Civil Investiture Ceremony    the honor during the Civil Investi-
            “Dream Girl.”                                    at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday (ANI)   ture Ceremony. The moment linked
                The concert itself has been en-                                                                   two parallel legacies — personal and
            visioned as something larger than   comes from the consistency of her   ferent generations. Singer-compos-  cinematic  —  while  also  reaffirming
            a traditional tribute. RJ Anirudh   public image. Actor Padmini Kolha-  er Anu Malik called it “a matter of   Hema Malini’s continuing promi-
            Chawla, the creative force behind   pure described how the “on-screen   pride” to participate in the celebra-  nence in national public life.
            the event, told ANI that the idea was   Dream Girl is still the off-screen   tion, describing Hema Malini  as a   What makes Hema Malini’s sto-
            to create a “360-degree ‘Hema Ma-  Dream Girl.” She recalled her long  “great actor” and a “great human be-  ry remarkable is not merely that she
            lini Universe’” because “even today,  relationship with Hema Malini and   ing.” Such praise reflects how her in-  has completed 60 years in cinema.
            after 60 years in cinema, she has re-  her  family, saying that despite  im-  fluence stretches beyond cinema into   Many actors survive in public memo-
            mained so active and relevant.” His   mense success, the actress remained   the larger entertainment industry.  ry through archival nostalgia. Hema
            statement captures the central real-  grounded and humble.              Actor Poonam  Dhillon perhaps   Malini, however, continues to inspire
            ity of Hema Malini’s career: she has   Kolhapure’s observation that   offered the clearest explanation   active admiration across generations.
            survived not simply through nostal- “the more she kept going up, the   for Hema Malini’s continuing hold   Younger performers still regard her
            gia, but through continued visibility   humbler  she  was”  is  particularly   on public imagination. Speaking to   as a role model, while older audienc-
            and engagement with public life.  significant  in  understanding  Hema   ANI, she said, “Any actor who comes   es continue to associate her with ele-
                This sustained relevance is unusu-  Malini’s longevity. Stardom in India   wants to become Hema Malini.”  gance and timeless stardom.
            al in Bollywood, where female actors   is often sustained as much by public   Dhillon described her as possessing   In many ways, Hema Malini
            have historically faced shorter career   perception of personal character as  “a perfect face,” being a “fabulous   represents a version of Bollywood
            spans compared to their male coun-  by cinematic achievement. Her rep-  dancer,” and having “beautiful, ex-  celebrity that modern cinema rarely
            terparts. Yet Hema Malini has man-  utation for dignity and profession-  pressive eyes” alongside a dignified   produces — a combination of glam-
            aged to transcend generational shifts   alism appears to have protected her   personality.            our, restraint, artistic versatility and
            in cinema, maintaining visibility not   image across  decades of  social and   The  emotional  significance  of   public dignity. That is why, six de-
            only as an actress but also as a danc-  industry change.            the upcoming concert has grown fur-  cades after her debut, India still sees
            er, parliamentarian and public figure.  The admiration extends beyond   ther following Dharmendra’s passing   her not simply as a former star, but
                Part of this enduring appeal   co-stars to artists from entirely dif-  in November 2025. The event will   as its enduring “Dream Girl.”

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