How Dharmendra-Hema Malini’s 1980 marriage sparked decades of questions

The star couple’s union faced intense public scrutiny over claims of religious conversion, legal concerns under Hindu Marriage law, and persistent rumours that resurfaced even decades later.

The marriage of actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini in 1980 became one of the most debated unions in Indian cinema, largely because the actor was already married to Prakash Kaur at the time. Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur had four children, Sunny, Bobby, Ajeeta and Vijaya, when the second marriage took place, prompting the public to question how a new marriage was possible under the Hindu Marriage Act.

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According to the authorised biography Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, discussions emerged around whether the marriage violated the Hindu Marriage Act, which does not allow a second marriage while the first is legally valid. During that period, widespread rumours claimed that the two actors had converted to Islam and taken the names Dilawar and Ayesha B, allegedly to enable a nikah. Reports from the time indicated that such rumours were circulating as early as 1979, a year before the marriage.

The debate resurfaced in 2004 during the Lok Sabha elections, when attention turned to Dharmendra’s election affidavit. Only the assets of his first wife, Prakash Kaur, were listed, leading political opponents to question the absence of references to Hema Malini. This revived old speculation about conversion and the legality of the marriage.

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As per reports, both actors later dismissed the claims surrounding conversion and nikah. Interviews from that period highlight Hema Malini stressing that matters concerning her marriage were deeply personal and not for public discussion. Reports also noted Dharmendra firmly rejecting allegations of religious conversion, calling them unfounded and inconsistent with his beliefs.

Despite decades of speculation, the couple maintained that the rumours held no truth. Their marriage continues to remain a subject of public curiosity, but the actors have consistently treated the issue as a private matter that has been widely misunderstood.