Dharmendra’s first wife Prakash Kaur believed ‘any man would have preferred Hema Malini over me’, defended husband after his second marriage

Dharmendra married Prakash Kaur in 1954 at the age of 19, much before his acting debut. When he married Hema Malini, he was a father of four children.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 23, 2025 02:49 PM IST

Dharmendra stayed married to Prakash Kaur when he tied the knot with Hema Malini. (Photo: Express Archive)

When Dharmendra marked his acting debut in 1960, he was married to Prakash Kaur and was already a father of a son, Sunny Deol. By the time he met Hema Malini in 1970, he was a father of four children. Yet, their love blossomed. As the years passed, the rumours of their relationship began to surface. They were in a relationship when they shot for Sholay. Eventually, they tied the knot in 1980, and Dharmendra chose to stay married to his first wife Prakash.

The news had sparked several theories. Some reported Dharmendra changed his religion to marry Hema Malini while being married to his first wife Prakash Kaur, others criticised him and gave him the tag of a ‘womaniser’. While Prakash always stayed away from the spotlight, she chose to step forward and defend her husband after he married Hema.

Actor Dharmendra with his wife Prakash Kaur. (Express archive photo on 11.12.1965)

In 1981, in a chat with Stardust, she said, “Why only my husband? Any man would have preferred Hema over me.” She further questioned, “How dare anyone call my husband a womaniser when half the industry is doing the same thing?” Prakash, in the same interview, claimed, “All heroes are having affairs and getting married a second time.” She added, “He may not be the best husband, though he is very good to me, but he is certainly the best father. His children love him a lot. He never neglects them.”

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She also spoke about Hema and shared, “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. For, as a woman, I can understand her feelings. But as a wife and a mother, I do not approve of them.”

Film star Hema Malini, Director J Om Prakash and Dharmendra on the set of film AAS PAAS. (Express archive photo)

Despite his second marriage, Prakash claimed Dharmendra was the first and last man in her life and she will continue to respect him as he is the father of her children. She said what had happened had happened and she did not know whether to blame her husband or her destiny. However, she claimed that Dharmendra was always available to her when she needed him.

Dharmendra married Prakash Kaur in 1954 at the age of 19. The couple welcomed two sons and two daughters: Sunny Deol, Vijeta Deol, Ajeita Deol, and Bobby Deol. Meanwhile, Dharmendra welcomed two more daughters with his second wife and Hema Malini: Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.

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