When Hema Malini met Rekha

Hema Malini and Rekha at the screening

 

 

 

 

 

My daughters are my priority: Hema Malini

With a lot of dedication, Hema Malini has worked hard on her daughters' careers. A friend and mentor to Esha and Aahana, Hema Malini has put in great efforts to build their career and persona. In an exclusive interview she speaks her heart out on the upbringing of her daughters and her family life.

 

“My career had taken a backseat while both Easha and Aahana were small. For a mother, her kids are very important.  And my darling daughters would always want me to be next to them, even while doing their home work. I am more like a friend to them. Not only mine but it is the duty of all mothers to inculcate the right values in their kids. I gave them all the time needed to build a strong personality, till their adolescent age which is a very tender age I remained next to them. And today I can confidently say that my daughters will always chose and do the right things,” says Hema Malini.

 

And once again, to make Esha’s comeback film a hit, Hema Malini took on the director’s chair. Praising her daughter she says, “As a filmmaker I find Esha very sexy and peppy in the foot-tapping item number with Salman Khan. It is indeed a boon for ‘Tell Me O Kkhuda’.  Why should I feel hesitant to shoot her in this sexy number? Infact I find her to be very stunning in this song. We have got a good response too and I feel proud about my daughter’s sizzling persona.”

 

However Hema Malini regrets having delayed launching her daughter. She says, “Sometimes I feel why I decided to direct Esha for ‘Tell Me O Khuda’ now. I should have done it long back. But she started getting offers and has done many films. But I am satisfied that I am directing her in ‘TMOK’. Also I bet my last penny that she has done a wonderful job. Being in the industry for so many years I have learnt to overcome all the nervousness and have become very encouraging. In ‘TMOK’ I made Esha fully aware of all the behind-the-scenes accomplishments. She has helped me in every sphere of filmmaking, be it production or editing.”

 

In the past when Hema has been busy calling the shots for ‘Dil Ashana Hai’, her daughters still remained a priority for her. “My daughters would want me immediately when they would come back from school. And I would rush to be on time. I remember while Shah Rukh Khan allowed me to go, he took the reins of direction for some hours, till the time I would return on the sets. This is how I managed to give all the time to my daughters. Now they have grown up but I am happy they look up to me for all the advice and also follow it religiously. My daughters are my capital,” says the proud mother.

 

While Esha and Aahna seek her advice and guidance at most times, Hema Malini has given them complete freedom to choose the man they want to marry. She says, “My mom was very strict but I am quite friendly with both of them. They are open to choose any man they want,  be it from their work place or outside the industry. As a mother, all I want is that the man should be descent and a good human being. One who would love, respect and give enough space to the women.”

 

Being in a happy marriage herself, the dream girl understands the importance of Dharmendra in her life. And she maintains that being in a relationship, respect is of utmost importance. “I am of the opinion that in a relationship a woman needs to respect a man whole heartedly. She should never forget that in our culture, a man is regarded highly. His ego should not be hurt and women should not try to be dominating. As a woman one should know what her husband likes and dislikes, she should take care likewise. Not always a man should be blamed for broken marriages. However in today’s times many relationships tend to break, I feel that even a man needs to give space, love and respect to his woman. Any relationship - be it friendship, family bonding or a man-woman relationship, it has to be handled smoothly from both ways. Both need to love each other without many expectations,” says Hema Malini.

 So when Hema Malini decided to take on direction for her daughter, Dharmendra was standing strong by her side. She says, “Dharmji supported me a lot while I decided to venture into direction for ‘TMOK’. He has been very obedient while I was directing him. We would discuss few things even at home. And I know my fans wish to see Dharmji and me together on the silver screen but this can happen only if we get a brilliant script.”

 And while Hema Malini is busy with re-launching Esha, her younger daughter – Aahana has great plans for her mother. “Aahana is writing a wonderful script for me and she has been pestering me to be her protagonist. She is completing the script and if I find it interesting then I will go ahead and produce, direct and act in it. Also if Dharmji will agree and if there is a suitable role then we will both be seen in this venture, however it is yet not finalised though,” concludes Hema Malini.

Hema Malini turns a year older

Actor, mother, politician, Hema Malini has done it all. She is a director now - and that, is where she is putting all her efforts into.

 

The doting mom turned director for her daughter's flick Tell Me O Khhuda. 

 

She was quoted as saying she is going all out to promote this flick along with Dharmendra and Eesha.

 

Tell Me O Khhuda hits the silverscreens on Diwali day.

 

Here's a look at some of her old photos

 

 

 

 

When yesteryear's divas met

Actress Hema Malini said Vyjayanthimala has always been a 'role model' and like an 'elder sister' to her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much-delayed ‘Tell Me O Kkhuda’ delayed further

 

Problems for Hema Malini’s ‘Tell Me O Khuda’ seems to show no signs of ending. The release of her already much-delayed home production, which stars daughter Esha Deol, Arjan Bajwa and Chandan Roy Sanyal, has been pushed back yet again.

It will now hit theatres October end. The Dream Girl, apparently, is running scared. She doesn’t want her movie to compete with the six other films that are releasing on September 30, a date she had originally chosen for her film release.

Says a source, “Hema was taken aback that there were so many releases the same day. She did not want to take any chances. The promotional tours of the cast are being reworked. The promos that are to air are also being rescheduled.”

The films scheduled to release on September 30 include the John Abraham starrer Force, Dev Anand’s Chargesheet, Nikhil Advani’s 3D animation flick Delhi Safari, Pammi Somal’s Na Jaane Kabse, Rajiv Khandelwal- Soha Ali Khan starrer Soundtrack and Deepa Sahi’s Tere Mere Phere.

Adds the source, “Hema is banking a lot on the project. So is Esha as it is her comeback vehicle to Bollywood. Hema feels it will put her back in the reckoning. The film also stars Dharmendra besides Madhoo, Rishi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Farooque Shaikh, Deepti Naval. Salman Khan has done a cameo.”

Tell Me O Kkhuda, which was completed last year, was initially slated for a December 2010 release. It was then pushed to early 2011. The makers then decided to out it after the IPL and World Cup match schedules, which took them to post May.

And just when Hema thought it was smooth sailing, she now has to contend with a crowd. Moreover, as Diwali sees Shah Rukh’s Ra.One, she now feels it would be safest to unleash her film on the public post the festive season.