# Hema Malini's Silent Strength: Sidelined by Dharmendra's First Family, Yet Choosing Dignity Over Drama
In the glittering yet often turbulent world of Bollywood legacies, one woman's poise amid heartbreak has captured hearts: Hema Malini, reportedly sidelined by Dharmendra's first family after his passing, emerged not with tears for the cameras, but with unwavering dignity.[1][2][3] Dharmendra, the iconic "He-Man" of Hindi cinema, breathed his last on November 24, 2025, at age 89, just days before his 90th birthday.[1][4] His quiet cremation at Mumbai's Pawan Hans Crematorium drew close family, but whispers of division soon followed. Sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, alongside first wife Prakash Kaur, hosted a prayer meet at Taj Lands End on November 27—yet Hema Malini was conspicuously absent.[2][3][4] Instead, she held a intimate Gita Paath at home that day, followed by her own prayer meet in Delhi on December 11 with daughters Esha and Ahana Deol.[2][6] Columnist Shobhaa De, in a candid interview with Barkha Dutt, laid bare the family fault lines. "Must have been a particularly difficult and hard decision… To be totally left out by the first family from something that she had spent 45 years of her own life… Nourishing, cherishing," De remarked, noting Hema's two daughters from the marriage and the deep pain of exclusion.[1][2][3][6] De praised Hema's restraint: despite her stature as a Mathura MP and Bollywood legend, she could have "hijacked those emotional moments" for media frenzy, but chose privacy and grace over "one-upmanship."[3][6] "She conducted [herself] with utmost dignity, not just for herself but for the person she had lost," De added, highlighting how Dharmendra maintained two parallel families without disowning either.[1][6] This saga transcends tabloid fodder—it's a poignant reminder of love's complexities in the public eye. Hema's choice echoes resilience, prioritizing personal healing over spectacle, even as fans mourn Dharmendra's final screen role in *Ikkis*.[1] Shobhaa De's insights humanize a superstar couple's private world, where loyalty and loss collide.[5][7] What do you think—did Hema Malini's dignity redefine grief in Bollywood? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or spread this story by sharing the post. Let's honor these legends together!Citations
1.https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/shobhaa-de-claims-hema-malini-was-sidelined-by-dharmendra-s-family-after-his-death-it-must-have-hurt-terribly-101766047839639.html
2.https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/hema-malini-spent-45-years-of-her-life-shobhaa-de-claims-hema-was-left-out-by-sunny-bobby-deol-after-dharmendra-death-101766051721283.html
3.https://www.news18.com/movies/bollywood/hema-malini-was-left-out-by-dharmendras-first-family-says-shobhaa-de-couldve-hijacked-those-moments-ws-kl-9777909.html
4.https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/hema-malini-was-completely-sidelined-by-dharmendra-first-family-after-his-death-72632
5.https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/shobhaa-de-says-hema-malini-was-left-out-by-dharmendra-s-first-family-after-his-demise-1817468
6.https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/hema-malini-left-out-by-first-family-after-dharmendra-death-chose-dignity-over-one-upmanship-10426518/
7.https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/bollywood/shobhaa-de-says-hema-malini-was-sidelined-by-dharmendra-s-first-family-after-his-death-article-13732469.html
8.https://theprint.in/opinion/hema-malini-dharmendra-funeral/2806325/
9.
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