Hema Malini Chakravarty, better known as Hema Malini, is one of the best known and most prolific actresses of the Hindi film industry. Apart from acting, she is a professionally trained dancer, and she has also produced and directed movies. She worked mostly in Hindi language films, but also made some appearances in South Indian cinema. She is also involved with politics, and is the current MP for Mathura.

Born on 16 October 1948 in Ammankudi, a village in Tamil Nadu, her mother was a film producer named Jaya Lakshmi Chakravarti. She was schooled in the Andhra Mahila Sabha, a school in Chennai, but she left her studies after high school in order to pursue a career in acting. Her first appearance on screen came with the Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam (1961) where she was a dancer.

But she made her mark in the Hindi film industry with her lead role debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968). In the 1970s, directors took notice of her and cast her in many popular films which included Johny Mera Naam (1970), Andaz (1971), Babul Ki Galiyaan (1972), Jugnu (1973), Dost (1974), Sholay (1975), Maa (1976), Kinara (1977), Trishul (1978) and Hum Tere Aashiq Hain (1979). She was especially well known for playing multiple roles in movies, thus showcasing her incredible versatility and dedication to acting. Films like Aansoo Aur Muskan (1970), Lal Patthar (1971), Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Sunehra Sansar (1975), Mehbooba (1976) and Jaaneman (1976) had Hema Malini portray several challenging roles in a single film. The most popular of these multiple role films, Dream Girl (1977) had her in five different roles, all of which she took to with ease. In fact, after the release of this movie she earned herself the moniker of “Dream Girl”. Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) also brought her much fame, and earned her the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress.

The 1980s too saw her reigning with successes in films such as Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1980), Kudrat (1981), Satte Pe Satta (1982), Razia Sultan (1983), Qaidi (1984), Hum Dono (1985), Anjaam (1987), Vijay (1988) and Santosh (1989).

She appeared in very few films during the 1990s as she decided to focus on television and other film related work. She worked on Jamai Raja (1991), Param Vir Chakra (1995), Maahir (1996) and Himalay Putra (1997).

In the 2000s, she continued appearing in films and charmed everyone with her excellent portrayals as an older woman such as in Baghban (2003), Veer-Zaara (2004), Ganga (2006), Baabul (2006) and Sadiyaan (2010). She last appeared in Bbuddah...Hoga Terra Baap (2011).

She has also successfully directed and produced two films, Dil Aashna Hai (1992) and Tell Me O Kkhuda (2011).

She earned the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and was also honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2000.

She married fellow film actor Dharmendra in 1979, and has two daughters with him, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.