Hema Malini was constantly coerced by Subhash Ghai to wear a bikini, and she was on the verge of giving in until Dharmendra intervened.
Anybody’s eyes could fly open when they heard about Bollywood or the shady talk of the pre-’90s era. There were catfights, slaps, secret pregnancies, replacements, frauds, extramarital affairs, extramarital affairs, and rejections! You did read that correctly. Slaps! And in one such altercation, Dharmendra, his second wife Hema Malini, and director Subhash Ghai are all involved.
The 1981 movie Krodhi, directed by Subhash Ghai and produced by the Deol family’s close friend Ranjit Virk, starred the Sholay combo, Dharam Ji and Hema Ji. For Dharam Ji, who was annoyed by Ghai for replacing his cousin Narendra with Rama Rao in the movie, it felt like a home production.
However, when Subhash Ghai insisted Hema Malini don a bikini for a pool scene in the movie, things spiraled out of control. The Baghban actress became enraged and flatly rejected the suggestion. Later, Ghai informed her that she is required to make her character appear like a prostitute because she portrays one in the movie. Dharmendra was unaware of any such Ghai demands.
Later, Hema Malini capitulated against her will to Subhash Ghai’s demands and offered to dress provocatively but without a bikini. Producer Ranjit Virk was confident that if the Guddi actor learned of this, chaos would ensue. Although he asked the actress not to tell her man, the information nonetheless got to him.
Later, according to numerous stories and even IMDb trivia, Dharmendra physically attacked and slapped Subhash Ghai before the cast and crew intervened and helped the director flee Dharmendra’s wrath. The situation became so out of control that Subhash Ghai later removed the entire scene from the movie and even received a warning from Dharmendra for something that is still unknown.
According to certain accounts, the actor from Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani was already upset with Subhash Ghai since the director insisted on having him redo scenes in which he mouthed English words. This was allegedly done as a retaliation for Dharam ji’s tardiness and preference for Hema Malini over the sets.
As we have stated, the Bollywood gossip era and all of the reported rumors continue to this day. None, however, has independently validated this alleged incident, so we won’t either. All of them are merely rumors, and only these celebrities can determine whether they are real in some aspects of their lives.
