Dharmendra’s Emotional Life Story: Two Marriages, Family Challenges, and a Lasting Legacy

Dharmendra’s Emotional Life Story: Two Marriages, Family Challenges, and a Lasting Legacy

Bollywood legend Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89, was loved not only for his films but also for his dramatic and heartfelt personal life. Known as Hindi cinema’s “He-Man,” he starred in classics like Sholay and Dharam Veer, but his relationships and family life often made just as much news.

Dharmendra’s first marriage was long before stardom. In 1954, at just 19, he married Prakash Kaur in a traditional Punjabi ceremony. While he worked in Mumbai to build his film career, Prakash stayed in Ludhiana, raising their four children—Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta, and Ajeeta. Sunny and Bobby went on to become popular actors, while the daughters chose private lives. Despite ups and downs, Dharmendra and Prakash remained legally married for more than seven decades. She was known to defend him and support the family quietly from the background.

But life changed when Dharmendra met actress Hema Malini on the sets of Tum Haseen Main Jawan in 1970. Their on-screen chemistry soon turned into a real-life romance. Hema, already a major star and 12 years younger, chose Dharmendra despite opposition from her family. In 1980, he reportedly converted to Islam so he could marry her without divorcing Prakash, which led to years of public debate. Dharmendra and Hema always kept the details private, but their marriage endured. They had two daughters—Esha and Ahana—whom Hema mostly raised on her own in Mumbai, while Dharmendra divided his time between both families.

There were painful moments too. During the shooting of Phool Aur Patthar, Dharmendra was linked to his co-star Meena Kumari, adding more complexity to his personal life. Through everything, Prakash remained dignified, once saying that he was still a good husband and father even if his heart belonged to someone else.

Over the years, all his children—Sunny, Bobby, Esha, and Ahana—came to form a warm, blended family. In his final years, the families interacted more openly, with grandchildren embracing both sides lovingly.

As tributes pour in from across the film industry and political world, Dharmendra’s life stands as a reminder that love and relationships can be complicated, but they can also be deep, loyal, and lasting. His legacy lives on through his films, his family, and the generations he inspired.