Not Hema, Not Meena — Dharmendra’s First Love Story That Ended with the Partition
Millions of people throughout the world still adore veteran actor Dharmendra. But have you ever pondered who his first love was? It’s not Meena Kumari, Prakash Kaur, or even Hema Malini, his second wife. The Sholay actor had previously discussed his childhood infatuation, whom he lost following the 1947 division of India and Pakistan.
In a Salman Khan-hosted episode of Dus Ka Dum, Dharmendra talked about Hamida. Dharmendra reminisced his school days in Punjab when he fell in love with Hamida, the daughter of his instructor, while appearing on the show with Bobby Deol.
As it happens, the veteran was younger than Hamida.
When Dharmendra was in the sixth standard and Hamida was in the eighth, their naive romance started.
The veteran expressed his fascination with Hamida. Dharmendra revealed that he would be reluctant to even glance at her, even though she would assist him with his studies.
“Hum man hi man mein kehte rehte the.” Thandi aahen bharte rehte. We continued to murmur in our hearts, “Samne wali ko maloom hi nahi tha.” We continued to sigh icily. “The person in front never even knew),” Dharmendra talked about his early experiences with love.
Dharmendra described a particular poem he wrote for a “very beautiful girl” as infatuation when Bobby questioned him about it.
He continued by reciting the poem, “Main chhota tha, maasoom thi umar meri.” Pata nahi, woh kya thi. Saath baithne ko jiske ji chahta thi, paas jaane ko jiske. Woh taliba thi aathvi ki, main chhathi ka tha. Hamare schoolteacher ki beti thi, naam Hamida tha.”
“Yuhin muskura deti, main paas chala jaata. Woh khaamosh rehti, main sar jhuka deta. Woh poochti kuch aur thi, main keh kuch aur jaata tha.
“Woh kehti, ‘Udaas mat ho, Dharam. Abhi waqt hai, tere imtihaan mein sab theek ho jaayega.’ Keh kar chali jaati, main dekhta rehta. Woh ojhal ho jaati, main sochta rehta, ‘Sawaal kya hai, yaar?’
What Happened to Hamida?
He revealed, “Pakistan ban gaya, Hamida chali gayi.” Dharmendra never saw Hamida again. However, he said that her memories remind him of his innocent love.
