Hema Malini turned emotional at a public event in Mumbai as she remembered her late husband Dharmendra. The veteran actress was seen struggling to hold back tears while speaking about life after his death. Her heartfelt words have now gone viral, touching fans across social media.
Hema attended the inauguration of Lens and Legacy: Bollywood in Focus, an exhibition celebrating the visual culture of Indian cinema. The event was organised by the National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, in association with the Union Ministry of Culture. A special section of the exhibition paid tribute to Dharmendra and Asha Bhosle.
Hema Malini Remembers Dharmendra
During her speech, Hema Malini opened up about the pain of losing Dharmendra and how difficult life has become without him. Hema told the audience, “I was really blessed to be with him. I miss him a lot. Now he’s not there. So I don’t know how I’m going to cope with it my whole life.”
The actress became emotional while remembering not just Dharmendra’s contribution to cinema, but also the person he was behind the scenes. The video of the moment quickly spread online.
Reacting to it, one user wrote, “Please aap ro mt dream girl.”
Another commented, “1st of May would be Dharmendra and Hema’s wedding anniversary, painful for Hemaji and kids.”
Check out the viral video below
Hema Malini Pays Tribute To Dharmendra’s Legacy
Hema Malini also spoke warmly about Dharmendra’s deep love for films and his connection with audiences.
She said, “It is very meaningful for me to be part of this exhibition. This tribute is not just a recognition of his contribution to the film industry. It is about his journey, passion, dedication and immense love for the audience. He always used to say, ‘Film is the way to connect with the heart’. He was very passionate about working in films and being in front of the camera.”
She then shared a more personal side of the superstar.
“As his life partner, I could see how passionate he was. He touched the hearts of millions of people with his wonderful performance and behaviour. He inspired so many people, including the younger generation. As an actor, a friend and a father – he was a great man,” she added.
Dharmendra, fondly known as Bollywood’s He-Man, passed away on November 24, 2025, just days before his 90th birthday on December 8.
Hema Malini On Asha Bhosle
Hema Malini also paid tribute to legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who passed away on April 12 this year. She recalled how Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar shaped many memorable moments of her film career.
“We have lost a beautiful, great singer with a golden voice. She sang for me as many songs as Lata Ji did for me,” she said.
Several known names from the industry attended the exhibition launch, including Ranjeet, Poonam Sinha, Madhoo, celebrity photographer Avinash Gowarikar and Kiran Shantaram.
