Hema Malini shaped the career of Shah Rukh Khan

Hema Malini shaped the career of Shah Rukh Khan

Indisputably, Hema Malini, credited as the ‘Dream Girl’, dominated Bollywood amidst the 70s and 80s. She has shared screen space with all the major stars of her time, including her husband Dharmendra, Jeetendra and Amitabh Bachchan.
Even today, she remains active in the film industry.

However, not many know that she played a key role in shaping the career of one of today’s biggest superstars and was the first to offer him a break when he was a TV actor.

He is none other than Shah Rukh Khan. When he received a call from Hema Malini’s cousin, at first believed it to be a prank and a fake offer. But after meeting Hema and Dharmendra, it became clear to him.

Today, Shah Rukh Khan commands a fee of 150-200 crores per film and one of the most recognized icons globally.

Shah Rukh embarked on his acting career with TV serials like Fauji and Circus. When he was trying to make a transition into films, one of the early offers he received was for film “Dil Aashna Hai” directed by Hema Malini who paired him opposite the late Divya Bharti.

While, Dil Aashna Hai wasn’t a huge commercial success, it opened doors for him. He came to be noticed by other filmmakers and shortly after, he featured in Deewana which became his breakout hit. Coincidentally, he paired opposite Divya Bharti once again in Deewana.

A video from an old IIFA event featuring Hema Malini and Shah Rukh Khan has recently gone viral. In the video, the two are seen together on stage, with Hema holding a trophy. She shares a memorable moment, saying, “Many people come up to her and say, ‘You made Shah Rukh Khan such a big star. Make me one too.’ she responds, ‘That’s not possible. He is incredibly talented. We just gave him an opportunity.
The hard work and dedication are all his and he deserves the credit.

News Edit KV Raman