Hema Malini was ‘considering’ Sanjeev Kumar’s marriage proposal, said no when he turned up in chappals and kurta-pyjama, recalls Aruna Irani

Aruna Irani recalled how Sanjeev Kumar once showed up to meet Hema Malini casually dressed in a kurta-pyjama and chappals, with “no style at all” that, according to her, left Hema unimpressed.

By: Entertainment Desk

Mumbai | June 18, 2025 01:29 PM IST

3 min read

Sanjeev Kumar wanted to marry Hema Malini

Actress Aruna Irani recalls Sanjeev Kumar’s unrequited love for Hema Malini

Veteran actress Aruna Irani, who has shared screen space with legendary actor Sanjeev Kumar in several films, recently opened up about a lesser-known chapter of Bollywood history, Sanjeev Kumar’s heartfelt, yet ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to woo Hema Malini. In a candid conversation with Lehren Retro, Aruna painted a vivid picture of Sanjeev Kumar’s shy, unassuming nature, and how it may have contributed to the end of a romance that once had the makings of a fairy tale. “I’ve never seen a man like him,” Irani said, recalling how indifferent Kumar was to appearances. “He would show up in any condition. When we would go out… we were young, so we used to dress up a bit… but he never did.” She revealed that when Sanjeev was contemplating marriage with Hema Malini, he made no special effort to impress her either. “I heard he wanted to marry Hema ji… and he went to meet her in that same unkempt condition. Hema ji said ‘No’… and that’s where everything went wrong.”

The actress described how Hema Malini was herself considering the proposal but was dissuaded by Kumar’s lack of style and presence. “Hema ji was really trying to go ahead with it… she was mustering the courage… but when she saw him like that, those slippers… that kurta, and that pyjama… there was absolutely no style.” She further added, “Ek toh waise bhi unki personality bilkul style ki nahi thi… aur kapde bhi waise pehne the… toh sab locha padh gaya.” (To begin with, his personality wasn’t stylish at all… and the way he dressed just made things worse.)

Also Read | Hema Malini on not holding grudges against former partners Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar: ‘Never keep anything in your heart’

To those unaware, Sanjeev Kumar, known for his deeply emotional portrayals on screen, led a personal life marked by solitude. He never married and passed away in 1985 at the age of 47. One of his most well-known romantic connections was with Hema Malini, and many believed they were close to tying the knot. Their relationship reportedly began during the filming of Seeta Aur Geeta (1972). According to the biography An Actor’s Actor by Hanif Zaveri and Sumant Batra, their bond blossomed while shooting the song ‘Hawa Ke Saath Saath,’ where they were seen skating together on the scenic roads of Mahabaleshwar. The book claims Kumar was serious about marrying Hema.

However, there was resistance on both sides. Sanjeev Kumar’s mother, Shantaben, was initially reluctant about her son marrying an actress. But Hema Malini, known for her humility and grace, gradually won her over. Yet the relationship fell apart over a fundamental disagreement. Hema Malini’s mother, Jaya Chakravarthy, was adamant that her daughter continue her acting career post-marriage. The Jariwala family, including Sanjeev and Shantaben, could not agree to this condition. The dream ended there. In 1980, Hema Malini married actor Dharmendra. The couple has two daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol.

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