Do you know why Hema Malini is called Dream Girl? And it is certainly not because of a movie! Check interesting details!

Hema Malini who ruled Bollywood during the 70s is known as the Dream Girl of Hindi cinema. Undoubtedly she is one of the most beautiful actresses to have graced the Indian silver screen. She also has a movie titled, “Dream Girl” with Hemaji playing the lead to her name. But it is not the movie that gave her this title. Many people believe that just as Shah Rukh Khan is now called Badshah of Bollywood or Amitabh Bachchan is called Shahenshah because of their respective movies the Baghban actress is also known as Dream Girl because of the movie.

Unlike popular belief, Hemaji received this tag much before she became a big heroine.

'Dream Girl' was used as a title for the promotion of her debut film

Hema Malini was a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and an aspiring actress. She was initially going to make her film debut with a Tamil movie directed by C V Sridhar. However, at the last minute, the director dropped her. But it worked in the favour of Hema Malini who then made her Bollywood debut with Raj Kapoor in Sapnon Ka Saudagar.

Recollecting experience of her movie debut the actress in her autobiography has penned, “Ananthaswami had made it very clear to us right from the start that all the decisions for the film would be taken by Raj Kapoor. The film was produced by a South Indian producer who had blocked bulk dates for Raj Saab, right after Sangam. They were now very keen on casting a fresh south Indian face who could also dance well and match up to the status of Vyjayanthimala.”

That is why Hema Malini was selected to work with Raj Kapoor. Ananthaswami, the producer of the movie was keen on promoting Hemaji as the celestial and divine beauty full of grace. And that is why on the movie’s posters and banners, she was introduced as “Raj Kapoor’s Dream Girl.”

Raj Kapoor was at that time quite hurt by the rejection from Vyjayanthimala who dropped him like hot cake and married Kapoor’s family doctor Dr. Bali. So in a way, Hema Malini was being projected in competition with the Madhumati actress. But the tag Dream Girl stuck with Hemaji who went on to become one of the most successful actresses of her time.