Hema Malini Celebrates 60 Years in Indian Cinema with a Grand Concert
A Milestone Celebration for Hema Malini
Renowned actress Hema Malini has marked an impressive 60 years in the Indian film industry. Expressing her joy over this significant milestone, she feels incredibly blessed and honored. Hema attributes her remarkable journey's success to the unwavering support and love from filmmakers, co-stars, technicians, and her family.
To celebrate this special occasion, a grand event titled 'Hema Malini - Live in Concert: Celebrating the Dream Girl's Diamond Jubilee – 60 Glorious Years in Cinema' was held at Shanmukhanand Hall in Mumbai on Friday evening. A 15-member live orchestra performed many of her iconic and timeless songs, showcasing her illustrious film career. The Dream Girl, known for her performances in blockbuster films like Sholay, Sita Aur Geeta, and Baghban, expressed her gratitude for the immense love she has received from audiences over the decades.
Reflecting on the pillars of her success, Hema Malini expressed deep gratitude towards her mother, who has always been her steadfast supporter. She believes that a mother's role is crucial in shaping a child's life and career. Additionally, she praised her entire family for their unwavering support throughout her journey. Having acted in around 200 films, Hema considers herself fortunate to be part of such a vast and beautiful film industry that has given rise to countless stars.
In addition to her six-decade-long acting career, Hema has directed two films: the 1992 Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dil Aashna Hai and the 2011 film Tell Me O Kkhuda, featuring her daughter Esha Deol. Discussing the film industry, she remarked on its vastness and beauty, which provides opportunities for every talented and dedicated individual to achieve great heights. She also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of technicians behind the scenes, such as costume designers and makeup artists.
When asked during the event if Deepika Padukone could play her in a biopic, she readily agreed, praising Deepika as a beautiful and talented actress who could embody the role.
To make the musical evening memorable, renowned artists like Sudesh Bhosale, Suresh Wadkar, and Poonam Dhillon performed enchanting renditions of Hema's evergreen songs. Hema expressed her gratitude to all the singers, noting that the charm of songs and films from the 1970s and 80s still resonates worldwide.
The celebration attracted many prominent figures from the film industry, including Ramesh Sippy, Rakesh Roshan, and Shatrughan Sinha, who are old friends of Hema Malini. She thanked her co-stars but mentioned that her elder daughter Esha Deol could not attend due to a viral infection.
Director Ramesh Sippy reminisced about their past experiences together, praising Hema's remarkable memory and dialogue delivery. He recalled how she was ready for a dual role in Sita Aur Geeta, and even after 50 years since Sholay, people still remember her as Basanti. Actress Madhu commended Hema's calm demeanor in challenging situations, while Poonam Dhillon celebrated her contributions as a remarkable actress and politician. Playback singer Kavita Krishnamurti also shared fond memories from their earlier days in Delhi, highlighting that Hema remains the same for her family as she was before.