How Dharmendra wooed Dream Girl Hema Malini with Rs 2,000 worth of 'mistakes' on Sholay sets

Bollywood’s ultimate romantic rebel, Dharmendra, may have ruled the screen as an action hero, but it was his off-screen antics that stole Hema Malini’s heart.

The chemistry between the He-Man and the Dream Girl wasn’t just cinematic magic—it was a love story crafted with mischief, persistence and a dash of bribery.

It began on the sets of Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970), where sparks flew between the fiery newcomer and the charming leading man. By the time Sholay (1975) rolled around, Dharmendra was smitten. But there was a problem: Hema was busy being an icon, and Dharam Paaji wasn’t one to let distance do the talking. Can you take a guess what he did? The 'Jat Yamala' paid the spot boys to create “accidents.” For Rs 20 a pop, they’d knock over a reflector or jolt the trolley—cue Dharam swooping in to “save” Hema. He ended up spending nearly Rs 2,000 on such interruptions and the Dream Girl was clearly charmed.

The two of them tied the knot in 1980, despite Dharmendra being married with Prakash Kaur and sharing four children with him - Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Ajeeta Deol, and Vijeta Deol. He and Hema had two daughters - Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.

As the world bid farewell to the He-Man at 89 yesterday, his love story remains Bollywood’s ultimate plot twist.