Hema Malini was born on October 16, 1948, in Ammankudi, Tamil Nadu, to V.S.R. Chakravarthy and Jaya, a film producer. She was enrolled in the Chennai-based Andhra Mahila Sabha.
After her debut as a dancer in a 1961 regional movie, she was rejected by Tamil Director C.V. Sridhar in 1964, citing that she was too thin to be a heroine. However, she persisted and made her acting debut opposite Raj Kapoor in 'Sapnon Ka Saudagar' in 1968, although the movie was a flop.
Hema went on to star in nearly 155 movies, produce and direct two movies, and direct a TV serial 'Noopur'. She was a popular actress in the 1970s, paired with Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor, and Dev Anand, and later with Rajesh Khanna, with whom she had 10 hits.
Hema Malini married Dharmendra in 1979, after converting to Islam, and they have two daughters, Esha and Ahana. She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
Hema is known for her iconic roles and is also called 'Dream Girl'. She continues to act in movies as of 2013 and is a renowned Bharatnatyam dancer.
