Hema Malini on living away from Dharmendra: ‘Nobody wants to be like that'

Hema and Dharmendra have been married since 1980 and have two daughters - Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. Before he married Hema, Dharmendra was already married and had four children.

Hema and Dharmendra have been married since 1980 and have two daughters - Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. Before he married Hema, Dharmendra was already married and had four children.

When the interviewer informed her that she is considered a feminist icon and one of the reasons is that she lived in her own house, Hema said, “Symbol of feminism? (laughs). Nobody wants to be like that, it happens. Automatically, what happens, you have to accept. Otherwise, nobody will feel like they want to live their life like this. No! Every woman wants to have a husband, children, like a normal family. But somewhere, it went out of the way."

“I am not feeling bad about it, or sulking about it. I am happy with myself. I have my two children, and I have brought them up very well. Of course, he (Dharmendra) was there, always. Everywhere. Actually, he was the one worried, ‘Shaadi hona chaiye bachchon ka jaldi' (The kids should get married early). I said ‘Hoga' (It’ll happen). When the time is right, the right person will come around. With the blessings of god and guru ma, everything happened,” she added.