Dharmendra, who was recently discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, resides with his first wife, Prakash Kaur, and their four children, including actors Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. He married Prakash six years before making his acting debut with ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’ in 1960. Dharmendra was just 19 years old at the time of his first marriage.Hema also opened up about her relationship with Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur in her authorised biography, ‘Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl’, written by Ram Kamal Mukherjee. Before marrying Dharmendra, Hema and Prakash had met briefly at social gatherings, but they never interacted again afterward. The actor, who shares daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol with Dharmendra, spoke of the respect she holds for Prakash Kaur and her family.
“Today I am a working woman and I maintained my dignity because I dedicated my life to art and culture. If the situation had been slightly different, I might not be what I am today. Although I never spoke about Prakash, I respect her greatly. My daughters also respect Dharam ji’s family. The world wants to know everything about my life, but that is not for others to know. It is no one’s business,” the book quotes Hema as saying.As quoted in the biography, Hema said, “I did not want to trouble anyone. I am happy with what Dharam ji did for me and my daughters. He played the role of a father, like any father would. I think I am satisfied with it.”It is well known that Dharmendra and his second wife, Hema Malini, live separately. In an earlier conversation with Lehren Retro, the 77-year-old actor and BJP MP had spoken openly about living apart from Dharmendra. She said, “I do not feel bad about it, nor am I sad. I am happy with myself. I have two children and I have raised them very well. Of course, he (Dharmendra) was always with me. No husband and wife like to live separately, but sometimes circumstances are such that a person has to accept it.“Hema Malini and Dharmendra tied the knot in 1980, at a time when he was already married to Prakash Kaur and a father of four children.
