Stories
Celebrating Hema Malini: 7 Iconic Films of Bollywood's Dream Girl
S
Storyboard•16-10-2026, 17:41
Celebrating Hema Malini: 7 Iconic Films of Bollywood's Dream Girl
- •Sholay remains one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated films, featuring Hema Malini as the lively tonga driver Basanti alongside Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan.
- •Directed by Gulzar, Meera showcases Hema Malini in a spiritual role as the poet-saint Meerabai, highlighting her acting range beyond commercial entertainers.
- •Kranti is a grand historical drama set during British rule, starring an ensemble cast including Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar, and Hema Malini as Rajkumari Meenakshi.
- •Johny Mera Naam is a gripping crime thriller starring Dev Anand alongside Hema Malini, blending suspense, romance, and an undercover investigation.
- •Dream Girl features Hema Malini in five distinct identities as she uses various disguises to support an orphanage, co-starring alongside Dharmendra.
- •Baghban explores complex family bonds and ageing, with Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan delivering powerful performances as a separated elderly couple.
- •Seeta Aur Geeta highlights Hema Malini's versatility in a memorable double role as separated twin sisters with completely contrasting personalities.
Key Questions Answered
Directed by Ramesh Sippy, Sholay features Hema Malini as Basanti, a spirited and talkative tonga driver who provides a lighter counterpoint to the film's action and drama alongside Dharmendra's character Veeru.
Directed by Manoj Kumar, Kranti is set during British rule in India and follows revolutionaries fighting against colonial oppression, with Hema Malini playing Rajkumari Meenakshi, whose character gets drawn into the conflict.
In the film Dream Girl, Hema Malini takes on five different identities: Sapna, Padma, Champabai, Dream Girl, and Rajkumari, using disguises to support an orphanage.
