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Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl
One of the most enduring divas of Hindi cinema, a producer and director for films and television, dancer and choreographer par excellence, magazine editor, an active member of Parliament and now a singer, Hema Malini wears many hats with admirable ease. No other industry name comes close to matching the breadth of her achievements. In an industry where the male star has traditionally driven the commercial success of films, Hema was an exception, with her name alone sufficing to ensure a film's box-office glory. She was, arguably, India's first female superstar. Apart from starring in mainstream super-hits like Johny Mera Naam, Jugnu, Andaz, Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay and, more recently, Baghban, she received critical acclaim for her performances in Lal Patthar, Khushboo, Kinara, Meera, Ek Chadar Maili Si and Razia Sultan. But there is much more to her than just her Bollywood journey.From her efforts at reviving and sustaining classical dance to her graceful handling of her personal life and the controversies that have plagued her in her political avatar, from her relationships to her religious beliefs and her recent tryst with singing, Hema Beyond the Dream Girl covers it all. With detailed interviews and exclusive anecdotes from her family, friends and co-actors, this is an inside look at the remarkable life of one of our greatest cinema icons, someone who has truly lived life on her own terms.
- GenresBiography
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2017
14 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Ram Kamal Mukherjee
7 books6 followersRam Kamal Mukherjee (Bengali: রাম কমল মুখার্জী) (born 1976) is a Bollywood film journalist and critic. He is best known for his coffee-table book on actress Hema Malini, Hema Malini Diva Unveiled from 2005. He has been a journalist for Screen (now Hotstar), The Asian Age, Stardust and the Mumbai Mirror, and is the former Vice-President of Pritish Nandy Communications.[1][2][3] [4][5] After working with Stardust, now he is writing his first fiction for Leadstart Publishing.
In 2016 he was working as producer with Rajshree Ojha for the TV series Bin Kuch Kahe.[6][7] He released the short story collection Long Island Iced Tea, a collection of eight short stories. Published by Leadstart Publishing this 154 pages book is his first foray into fiction.
In 2016 he was working as producer with Rajshree Ojha for the TV series Bin Kuch Kahe.[6][7] He released the short story collection Long Island Iced Tea, a collection of eight short stories. Published by Leadstart Publishing this 154 pages book is his first foray into fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 18, 2018
A detailed account of the 'Dream Girl's life, which starts off brilliantly but loses steam while covering the latter part of her life (especially her family and political life).
May 14, 2018
A very well written and documented biography of one of the biggest names in Bollywood !
May 14, 2019
I’m an avid fan of Hema Malini, the great Indian Bollywood star of 70s and 80s, this book was gifted to me by my dear wife who knows of my obsession with Hema Ji’s movies. The book is an authorised biography covering mostly impersonal details about the great star. There are some personal anecdotes but Hema Ji has taken care not to reveal too much about those incidents. For me Hema Ji is perhaps the most beautiful person on the planet and it has always been a pleasure to watch her movies, most of which I’ve seen multiple times. She is a classical Indian beauty but it's not only the external beauty she is admired for. In fact Hema Ji has been one of the most versatile actresses in Bollywood and has done all kinds of roles in Hindi movies whether it has been a Basanti Tangewallie in Sholay, or double role in Seeta Aur Geeta, sensuous Diva in Johnny Mera Naam or a mother in Baghbaan. In all these she has stood her ground or even dominated some of the great names of Bollywood.
Hema Ji has lived her life on her own terms, she married Dharam Ji, again one of my favourite stars in Bollywood, in spite of strong opposition of her family just because she loved him and even ignored the fact that Dharam Ji was already a married man by then. She created own space for herself and raised her family independently and now is a grandmother herself. In fact she is considered one of the first feminists in Bollywood and has been perhaps the only female superstar who could make a movie a success on her own in a male dominated industry.
The book describes her journey from a school girl to a classical dancer and then to stardom. She also faced challenges along the way, she in fact was rejected and removed from her first movie by her director saying that she can never be an actress but she persevered and proved everybody wrong. Another thing I liked in this book is Hema Ji’s professional approach to work and how committed she has been in all her endeavours.
Now Hema Ji is in politics and has been representing Mathura as a member of Parliament, the reason she took on this constituency is because Matura is a land of Krishna whom she has worshipped in her heart since childhood.
Well Hema Ji has been a Dream Girl for millions of Indians and this book provides a good overview of her life as well as work and should be a good read for her ardent fans.
Hema Ji has lived her life on her own terms, she married Dharam Ji, again one of my favourite stars in Bollywood, in spite of strong opposition of her family just because she loved him and even ignored the fact that Dharam Ji was already a married man by then. She created own space for herself and raised her family independently and now is a grandmother herself. In fact she is considered one of the first feminists in Bollywood and has been perhaps the only female superstar who could make a movie a success on her own in a male dominated industry.
The book describes her journey from a school girl to a classical dancer and then to stardom. She also faced challenges along the way, she in fact was rejected and removed from her first movie by her director saying that she can never be an actress but she persevered and proved everybody wrong. Another thing I liked in this book is Hema Ji’s professional approach to work and how committed she has been in all her endeavours.
Now Hema Ji is in politics and has been representing Mathura as a member of Parliament, the reason she took on this constituency is because Matura is a land of Krishna whom she has worshipped in her heart since childhood.
Well Hema Ji has been a Dream Girl for millions of Indians and this book provides a good overview of her life as well as work and should be a good read for her ardent fans.
February 26, 2022
A wonderful dignified cultured personality and the Authorised biography is really good and worth the time.
Hema Malini as we all know more so as a Hindi film actress, is also an excellent exponent of Bharatnatyam Kuchipudi Odisi among other dance forms, also a director, producer, a singer as well. Multifaceted person who is what she is because of hard work, disciplined life, sincerity towards her passion.
She was forced to pursue dance by her mother who herself was a classical singer and a learner person as such, who was a wonderful housewife and brought up her kids with an iron fist.
Hema Malini's life most we know rest is covered well in this book. Her life as a kid, her childhood filled with dance sessions, her film life, her dance balle, her television life, her political spiritual and personal life all is covered in this book
The only part left is about her affair with Sanjeev Kumar where she almost got married to him is skipped purposely as Hema Malini did not want to discuss it, you can find details of this in another book on Sanjeev Kumar. The other point I wanted in this book was which roles she liked of other actresses which she loved or had missed out on. Also wanted to to see a chapter dedicated to her directors and others contemporary actresses and their views about her.
Barring these points rest of the book gives a complete idea of the persona she is.
For me as my point of view her political career as Esha her daughter mentioned was better when she was a rajya sabha member rather than being a pawn in some political party, i feel she does not have the manipulative mind for that.
Overall well written and researched book, really Ram Mukherjee was lucky and fortunate to get this opportunity to live and see the Diva from up close.
Hema Malini as we all know more so as a Hindi film actress, is also an excellent exponent of Bharatnatyam Kuchipudi Odisi among other dance forms, also a director, producer, a singer as well. Multifaceted person who is what she is because of hard work, disciplined life, sincerity towards her passion.
She was forced to pursue dance by her mother who herself was a classical singer and a learner person as such, who was a wonderful housewife and brought up her kids with an iron fist.
Hema Malini's life most we know rest is covered well in this book. Her life as a kid, her childhood filled with dance sessions, her film life, her dance balle, her television life, her political spiritual and personal life all is covered in this book
The only part left is about her affair with Sanjeev Kumar where she almost got married to him is skipped purposely as Hema Malini did not want to discuss it, you can find details of this in another book on Sanjeev Kumar. The other point I wanted in this book was which roles she liked of other actresses which she loved or had missed out on. Also wanted to to see a chapter dedicated to her directors and others contemporary actresses and their views about her.
Barring these points rest of the book gives a complete idea of the persona she is.
For me as my point of view her political career as Esha her daughter mentioned was better when she was a rajya sabha member rather than being a pawn in some political party, i feel she does not have the manipulative mind for that.
Overall well written and researched book, really Ram Mukherjee was lucky and fortunate to get this opportunity to live and see the Diva from up close.
November 27, 2021
She dreamt and achieved .Story of talent,hard work ,perseverance, spirituality,family life, taking opportunities .I related well with the movies I grew up with. Dream Girl.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews