Dharmendra Paid Crew Rs. 20 To 'Ruin' Sholay Takes, Determined To Stretch Every Hug With Hema Malini

Veteran actor Dharmendra is one of the most beloved and iconic stars of Indian cinema, even after six decades. Recently, the actor broke all headlines after he was falsely reported to have died on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the age of 89. However, his daughter, Esha Deol, shut down the rumours, confirming on Instagram that he is "stable and recovering", urging the media not to spread misinformation. Amid the ongoing confusion, the attention has shifted to the multifaceted love life of Bollywood's legendary ‘He-Man’. 

As confusion swirls around, fans have turned their gaze back to the love story that once defined Hindi cinema: Dharmendra and Hema Malini. Here's a throwback to the time the actor allegedly bribed the spot boys on Sholay's set to hug his love interest, Hema Malini, again and again.

Dharmendra’s Rs 20 bribe that allowed him to stretch the iconic 'Veeru-Basanti' romance

Decades before viral reels or soft-launch romances, there was Dharmendra, the handsome star who loved with the heart of a poet. His bond with Bollywood’s ‘Dream Girl’, Hema Malini, became one of the most talked-about romances of Hindi cinema’s golden era. Though Hema was initially cautious, she couldn't resist falling for Dharmendra on the sets of Sholay (1975), and the actor's efforts played a huge role in it.

Long before the audience saw ‘Veeru’ and ‘Basanti’ fall for each other on screen, Dharmendra and Hema were already nurturing a genuine romance behind the scenes. We all remember the iconic revolver-training scene between ‘Veeru’ (Dharmendra) and ‘Basanti’ (Hema Malini), where the former sneaks a steamy hug, while ‘Jay’ (Amitabh Bachchan) cheekily watches from a distance. Well, behind the scenes, Dharmendra wanted one thing above all.

Of the many iconic tales of their real-life romance, a beloved anecdote from Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s journey comes from their Sholay moments. During the famous revolver training scene, Dharmendra allegedly wanted more hugs, more takes, and more time with Hema. So he came up with a cheeky trick - the actor reportedly paid the spot boys Rs. 20 each to ‘accidentally’ ruin the shot, making sure he could hug Hema again and again.

The crew understood exactly what Dharmendra wanted and happily played along. A dropped reflector here, a wobbly trolley there, or a perfectly timed slip-up- they did everything they could to give ‘Veeru’ one more take, and one more hug with his ‘Basanti’. Dharmendra had reportedly spent around Rs. 2,000 on these playful interruptions throughout the shooting. 

Hema Malini was also reportedly smitten by Dharmendra's relentless efforts to get closer to her, eventually falling in love with the actor behind the scenes. In August 2025, celebrating the 25 legendary years of Sholay, the actress reflected on how their real-life love lit up their on-screen romance. The actress told NDTV:

"He was very fond of me as I was of him. We had a lovely relationship because we had worked on so many movies together. We shared so much with each other - sometimes they were problems, sometimes it was happiness. Eventually, friendship led to love, maybe that's what was reflected on the big screen too, in the film."

Inside Dharmendra and Hema Malini's timeless romance

Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s chemistry was already legendary, from their on-screen pairing in Tum Haseen Main Jawaan to Seeta Aur Geeta. But Sholay was the one film that's said to have played a huge role in bridging their growing affection, which, behind the iconic ‘Basanti-Veeru’ banter, refused to stay hidden. But the path to their happily ever after was anything but simple.

When they fell in love, Dharmendra was already a married man. He married his first wife, Prakash Kaur, in 1954, with whom he had four children: Sunny, Bobby, Vijeeta, and Ajeeta Deol. Hema, who had hopelessly fallen in love, became the other woman in the marriage, while Prakash refused to grant a divorce. Yet, her bond with Dharmendra grew stronger with time. Eventually, the extended family came to an agreed arrangement.

After reportedly dating for five years, Hema and Dharmendra tied the knot in 1979 in a private nikah ceremony followed by a traditional Iyenger wedding. Speaking about her love for Dharmendra in her 2017 memoir, Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl, the actress wrote:

 "He stood by me like a rock, through all the noise. He was, and remains, a man of immense strength and softness — a rare combination."

Where does the couple stand now?

Even after being married, Dharmendra (89) and Hema Malini (77) live in separate homes. The Mera Naam Joker star lives in his original family bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai, while the Dream Girl star lives in a separate bungalow in the same location with their two daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol, as she never wanted to disrupt Dharmendra's first marriage with Prakash.

Despite the unusual living arrangement, the couple shares an enduring bond, and Dharmendra remains close to all his children, including those from his first marriage. While Prakash Kaur has always steered away from the limelight, the star has been vocal about his love for Hema, writing verses for her, remembering her favourite songs, and still calling her “meri Hema”.

Dharmendra’s health update amid death hoax

This week has been noisy with unverified rumours surrounding Dharmendra’s ill health. Though multiple reports confirmed the actor’s passing on November 11, 2025, his family, including Hema Malini and Esha Deol, have now come forward, rubbishing the rumours and requesting privacy as they visit him at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. According to recent updates, Dharmendra has been showing steady improvement in the ICU and is responding well to treatment.

Dharmendra's bribe story from the Sholay set remains an iconic symbol of love that stood the test of time. Even decades, he and Hema Malini remain one of the golden couples of Indian cinema, with a chemistry that transcends all bounds.

Read Next: Esha Deol Took 30 Years To Meet Dharmendra's First Wife, Prakash Kaur, Sunny Deol Helped Her

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)