During the 1970s and early 1980s, Hema Malini one of the biggest stars in Bollywood and widely considered to be one of the highest paid actresses in the industry at that time. However, in a recent conversation on a podcast, the veteran actor and politician rejected the long-standing claim, saying that he never earned the kind of pay the stars now command and was never driven by money in his career choices.
Hema Malini denies that she is the highest paid actress in Bollywood
Talking about the head-view during a conversation with Hindi Rush, Hema Malini said, “No, not at all. Kisne bola yeh? (Kisne bola yeh? (Who said that?) We used to get a very small amount. Itna kuch nahi dete the (They didn’t pay us much). Directors and producers liked me a lot, but I never worked for money. That’s all. Uska ittu bhi nahi milta tha humko (We didn’t even get a fraction of that).”Reflecting on the value of her work beyond the salary, Hema Malini added, “Apan uske baat hi alag hai lekin. Jo mila usmein jo hum logon ne pictures kari, which earns more than the actual money. (But that’s a different story altogether. Whatever we get from the films we work on is worth more than any amount of payment.) afford to pay well. Otherwise, I never asked, ‘Itna hi chahiye varna nahi karungi picture’ (I want this amount or I won’t do the film). I never did that.”
Hema Malini recalls her mother’s role in dealing with producers
The actor also credits his mother for handling all the financial negotiations during his career, revealing how little importance the bills had at the time. He said, “My mother handled everything, and she was very liberal with all the producers. If a producer says, ‘I can’t pay a lot for this film,’ he says, ‘No problem.’ We never insisted on money. Whatever small envelope they give us, we accept it, almost like bheeksha (alms).“
About Hema Malini:
Hema Malini is one of the most popular actresses in Hindi cinema, often referred to by the moniker “Dream Girl” for her work in the 1970s and 80s in films that encompass romance, drama and action. Apart from acting, he is also an accomplished Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancer, and has directed and produced several film and television projects over the decades. In addition to her film career, Malini has a long-standing political career as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), serving as a Member of Parliament representing Mathura in the Lok Sabha. She is married to an actor Dharmendra:and mother of artists Esha Deol: and Ahana Deol.
