Dharmendra's First Love Was Not Hema Malini Or Prakash Kaur, He Told Bobby Deol 'Wo Taliba Thi'

Veteran actor, Dharmendra has had his fans holding their breath lately with his recent health scare, followed by the fake news of his death. The 89-year-old faced some age-related health issues, including breathlessness; however, on November 12, 2025, he was reported to have been fit enough to be taken home. After his discharge, his second wife, Hema Malini, issued a statement, saying that she was relieved that Dharmendra was back home. Dharmendra and Hema Malini's love story is not unknown to any Bollywood fan; however, do you know she wasn't his first love? Let's find out who stole a young Dharmendra's heart before his two wives.

Dharmendra shared about his first love with his son, Bobby Deol

Dharmendra grew up in a small village in Punjab before the 1947 Partition of India.  As a schoolboy, the Sholay actor fell in love with a girl named Hamida. She was the daughter of his teacher and was slightly older than him. She studied in class eight when he was in the sixth standard. The lover boy opened up about his pure feelings for her during his joint appearance with his younger son, Bobby Deol, on the Salman Khan-hosted show, Dus Ka Dum. Dharmendra recalled peeking glances at Hamida and longing to sit beside her during his infatuation. He stated:

"Hum man hi man mein kehte rehte the. Thandi aahen bharte rehte the. Samne wali ko maloom hi nahi tha."

Hamida wasn't aware of Dharmendra's love for her, as he never had the guts to confess. He kept his feelings in his heart and later, penned them down in the form of a poem. During the father-son's appearance on Salman's show, Bobby Deol reminded Dharamji about the poem, and the veteran star replied that he had written it years ago, when he was a student and the Partition hadn't happened yet. He said, "Main jab padhta tha, partition nahi hua tha — tab ki baat hai." Dharam ji, shared his poem about his innocent love, which went like:

"Main chhota tha, maasoom thi umar meri. Woh kya thi, pata nahi. Paas jaane ko jiske, saath baithne ko jiske ji chahta tha. Woh taliba thi aathvi ki, main chhathi ka tha. Hamare school teacher ki beti thi, naam Hamida tha."

Dharmendra's love story with Hamida remained unfulfilled as when the Partition of India and Pakistan happened in 1947, Hamida and her family moved to Pakistan, while Dharmendra's family picked the other side of the border as their forever home. He never saw her again, but her memory stayed with him as his sweet adolescent love. According to the poem's verses, she asked him not to get disheartened, indicating that the duo were once on talking terms. Regarding how Dharmendra's words got jumbled during his conversation with Hamida, he wrote:

"Yuhin muskura deti, main paas chala jaata. Woh khaamosh rehti, main sar jhuka deta. Woh poochti kuch aur thi, main keh kuch aur jaata tha. Woh kehti, 'Udaas mat ho, Dharam. Abhi waqt hai, tere imtihaan mein sab theek ho jaayega.' Keh kar chali jaati, main dekhta rehta. Woh ojhal ho jaati, main sochta rehta, 'Sawaal kya hai, yaar?'"

Dharmendra's love found fulfilment in the form of two women, Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini

Besides Dharmendra's illustrious career, he is well known for his unconventional love story with his first wife, Prakash Kaur, and his second wife, Hema Malini. Dharmendra married Prakash Kaur in 1954 at the age of 19, before entering Bollywood. They had a traditional arranged marriage and have four children together, sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, and daughters, Vijeta and Ajeita. A married Dharmendra met Hema Malini on the sets of the film, Tum Haseen Main Jawan in 1970 and eventually fell in love with her. Faced with the inability to legally marry under Hindu law without divorcing his first wife, Prakash Kaur, Dharmendra and Hema Malini reportedly converted to Islam to have a nikah ceremony in 1979.

What are your thoughts on Dharmendra getting separated from his first love due to the Partition? Let us know.

Also Read: Sunny Deol Shouts At Paps For Invading Family's Privacy Amid Dharmendra's Health, 'Sharam Nahi Aati'

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)