Sanjeev Kumar, whose real name was Harihar Jethalal Jawriwala, was an Indian actor who is remembered and revered for his phenomenal acting skills. The actor was a treasure of versatility, making any and all characters he played seem believable. He acted in several movies across a spectrum of genres. He was one of the greatest, most phenomenal actors of the 1960s.
Sanjeev Kumar touched unmatched heights when it came to his career as an actor. However, his love life remained in shambles as despite experiencing several romantic encounters, he remained unmarried till the very day he died. For the unversed, Sanjeev had been speculated to have been linked with numerous actresses, including Hema Malini, Saira Banu, and Nutan. The actor was also linked to Shulakshana Pandit, a playback singer who belonged to Mewati Gharana. Nonetheless, his most talked about relationship remains with actress, Hema Malini.
Actor, Sanjeev Kumar, though loved by his fans and his contemporaries, never received his big love and passed away at the age of 47 without ever being married. His love story might have remained incomplete, but it is not forgotten. His relationship with Hema Malini still remains one of the most important of his story. The actor's relationship with Hema nearly culminated in marriage but ultimately fell apart due to Sanjeev’s one condition. The actor expected Hema to give up her acting career.
The love between the two bloomed when they met on the sets of Seeta Aur Geeta in the year 1972. In the book by Hanif Zaveri and Semant Batara, An Actor's Actor, which for the unversed is the authorised biography of the iconic actor, Sanjeev Kumar. The authors shared that Sanjeev Kumar and Hema Malini became familiar with one another while they were shooting for the popular song, Hawa Ke Saath Saath. The song was shot in the picturesque roads of Mahabaleshwar, which became a testament to their love.
According to the book, it was an incident that played a pivotal role in bringing Sanjeev Kumar and Hema Malini together. The duo was shooting for the song, Hawa Ke Saath Saath, when the trolley came loose and veered towards a cliff. Fortunately for the actors, the road ahead was bent inwards, and they fell away from the dangerous cliff. Sanjeev and Hema were lucky as they came out of the treacherous mishap with only minor cuts and bruises. Though saved from this danger, this brush with death brought them closer. After the accident, the duo was noticeably more concerned about the other. It is believed that it was during this time that they developed feelings for one another.
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Sanjeev Kumar had his heart set on marrying Hema Malaini. There was one hurdle, his mother, Shantaben. She was against Hemal Malini being her daughter-in-law because of her career as an actress. However, as they say, love conquers everything, and Hema wins Shantaben's heart. The actress was a humble woman, she would always cover her head when she met Shantaben and even touch her feet. In no time, Hema Malini gained Shantaben's approval and became the only actress Shantaben approved of to become her daughter-in-law.
The Jariwals, aka Sanjeev Kumar's family, decided the next step was to visit Hema’s family in Madras and ask for her hand in marriage. Soon, the date for the visit was fixed, and the tickets were bought. Following the traditions, Shantaben met Hema Malini’s mother, Jaya Chakravarthy, with boxes of sweets, and the latter, too, was happy to meet Sanjeev’s family. Even though the two actors came from extremely different cultural backgrounds, it never posed a hurdle. However, once again, Hema Malini’s film career became a bone in their merry union.
It was Hema Malini’s mother, Jaya Chakravarthy, who put forth the condition that became a hurdle in Hema and Sanjeev Kumar's relationship. She declared to Shantaben that the only way her son could marry his daughter was if they allowed her to continue working. The condition was exceedingly difficult for the Jariwala family to accept. Shantaben and Sanjeev had made it clear to Hema that if she wanted to marry into the Jariwalas, she would have to give up her career as an actress. According to Gayatri Patel, Hema had promised Sanjeev that she would complete her pending works and bid adieu to the film fraternity.
Hema Malini understood her mother’s decision as, at the time, she was one of the highest-paid actresses and had hoped that Sanjeev Kumar would eventually agree and allow her to carry on with her career. However, neither party was ready to compromise, and the lack of the possibility to find common ground ended their relationship. Hema, in 1991, commented on why her relationship with Sanjeev ended in an interview with the magazine, Junior G. She stated:
"A Sanjeev Kumar who desired a stay-at-home, an all-sacrificing wife who would care for his ageing mother and support him while he mesmerized the audience and won accolades seems like a caricature of a male chauvinist. But before judging him too harshly, let’s consider the era we are dealing with. Back in the day, it was common to look down upon women who chose to be a part of showbiz."
What are your thoughts on Sanjeev Kumar and Hema Malini's unrequited love?
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