Who Was Dharmendra's Wife? Heart of Bollywood's He-Man Legacy

Bollywood legend Dharmendra died on November 24, 2025, at age 89. He was a famous star for generations. While his rise from a small village to fame is well-known, fans were most fascinated by his personal life, especially his two marriages to Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini.

This article looks at the lives of Dharmendra's two wives. It explores their marriages, the family they created, and how they handled their unique situation with grace.

Who Was Dharmendra’s First Wife?

Dharmendra (born Dharam Singh Deol) married Prakash Kaur in 1954 at the age of 19, while still an unknown villager from Sahnewal, Punjab. The marriage was arranged in traditional Punjabi style when Dharmendra had no connection whatsoever with the film industry. Prakash, then 18, belonged to a respectable family and brought stability to the young man who would later win a Filmfare talent contest and enter cinema in 1960.

For the first decade of his career, while Dharmendra struggled in Mumbai with minor roles, Prakash remained in Punjab managing the household and raising their children. Family members often cite her unwavering support during these financially uncertain years as the foundation that allowed Dharmendra to focus on his craft.

Children with Prakash Kaur

Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur have four children:

• Sunny Deol (born Ajay Singh Deol, 1956) – actor and Member of Parliament
• Bobby Deol (born Vijay Singh Deol, 1969) – actor
• Vijeta Deol – settled in the United States
• Ajeeta Deol – maintains a private life

Sunny and Bobby have carried forward the Deol legacy in Bollywood, while Vijeta and Ajeeta have consciously stayed away from the limelight, a choice Prakash is said to have encouraged to give them normal childhoods.

When Dharmendra’s relationship with Hema Malini became public in the late 1970s, Prakash Kaur chose silence over confrontation. In rare interviews over the decades, she consistently refused to criticise either her husband or Hema Malini. In one widely quoted statement to Stardust magazine in the 1980s, she remarked, “He is the father of my children. Whatever he does, he remains their father.” This dignified stance earned her admiration across the industry and from the public.

Dharmendra and Hema Malini

How It Began on Set

Dharmendra and Hema Malini first shared screen space in 1970 with Tum Haseen Main Jawaan. Over the next decade, they appeared together in more than 28 films, including blockbusters such as Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Sholay (1975), Dream Girl (1977), and Raja Jani (1972). Their on-screen chemistry was electric and widely regarded as one of the greatest pairings in Hindi cinema history.

The relationship deepened during the making of Pratiggya (1975) and Charas (1976). Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan later recalled in a BBC interview that Dharmendra would pay the light boys extra money to deliberately cause delays during Hema’s scenes with other actors, just so he could spend more time with her.

Controversial Second Marriage in 1980

In 1980, Dharmendra converted to Islam and married Hema Malini under the name Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishna in a private ceremony in Tamil Nadu. The decision was necessitated because Hindu law at the time did not permit a second marriage while the first spouse was alive and had not granted divorce. Prakash Kaur had steadfastly refused to divorce Dharmendra, citing her children’s future and her own cultural beliefs.

For years, no one knew they were married. This changed in the mid-1980s when Hema Malini began openly calling Dharmendra her husband, making their relationship public.

Those close to the couple often recount Dharmendra’s fiercely protective nature. When their daughters Esha and Ahana were born (1981 and 1984 respectively), Dharmendra reportedly booked entire floors of Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital to ensure privacy and security. Hema Malini has repeatedly described him as an indulgent yet disciplined father who balanced traditional Punjabi values with modern parenting.

Dharmendra’s Passing in 2025

Following Dharmendra’s death on 24 November 2025, Hema Malini was seen at the crematorium in an emotional state rarely witnessed in public. She later posted a moving tribute on social media: “My dearest Dharam ji, you will always live in my heart. Thank you for the beautiful journey.”

Prakash Kaur, true to form, did not issue a public statement. Family sources revealed she performed the last rites alongside Sunny and Bobby Deol, standing with quiet dignity throughout the ceremonies.

Bollywood Mourns the Family Man

Stars from Amitabh Bachchan to Salman Khan paid homage not only to Dharmendra the actor, but to Dharmendra the devoted family man whose personal life, despite its complexities, was anchored in deep love for both his wives and all six children.