Dharmendra tied the knot with Hema Malini in the year 1980, even though the Sholay actor was married to Prakash Kaur in 1954. Both of them have four children, but this did not stop Dharmendra from marrying Hema, and they even have two children.
Although, at that time, when Dharmendra married Hema without divorcing his first wife, the actor was called a womaniser. But his first wife, Prakash Kaur, came to his defense and slammed all those who called the actor a womaniser.
Speaking to Stardust in 1981, Kaur had said, ‘Why only my husband, any man would have preferred Hema to me. How dare anyone call my husband a womaniser when half the industry is doing the same thing? All heroes are having affairs and getting married a second time. He may not be the best husband, though he is very good to me, he is certainly the best father. His children love him a lot. He never neglects them.’
Although Kaur didn’t blame Hema Malini, she said that she would have never done what the Baghban actress did. ‘I can understand what Hema is going through. Even she has to face the world, her relatives, and her friends. But if I were in Hema’s place, I would not have done what she did. As a woman, I can understand her feelings, but as a wife and a mother, I do not approve of them.’
‘He is the first and last man in my life. He is the father of my children. I love and respect him a lot. What has happened has happened. I don’t know whether I should blame him or destiny for it. But one thing is for certain, however far he may be from me, and whatever might happen, if I need him, I know he’ll be there. I have not lost my trust in him. After all, he is the father of my children,’ she concluded.
However, even after so many years, Hema Malini and Prakash Kaur are not on talking terms, but even though they have no enmity, they have accepted their fate.