Hema Malini worked with Dev Anand during the early stages of her career.
Hema Malini recalled having to sit in Dev Anand’s lap as they were stuck on a ropeway in near Nalanda, Bihar.
Bollywood’s “Dream Girl” Hema Malini has worked with several legendary actors throughout her illustrious career. Her cinematic collaborations have resulted in not only the powerful portrayal of feminine characters on screen but also some chart-topping Bollywood songs. Her song Pal Bhar Ke Liye from the 1970 film Johny Mera Naam with Dev Anand is one of the biggest hits in her career. In a recent interview, Hema recalled an “embarrassing” incident from the film’s shoot.
Hema Malini made an appearance at the Jaipur Dev Festival held to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Dev Anand. She said that for the shoot of the song O Mere Raja, they had to sit in a rope chair near Nalanda, Bihar. He recalled being stuck with Dev in the rope chair and said that she felt very embarrassed as he had to sit on his lap.
Hema said, “There was a scene where we were supposed to go in the rope chair. The sequence was such that he is sitting already and I have to sit in another chair but because I miss it, he makes me sit on his lap. That was very embarrassing for me, in real life also, and in the film also I am feeling very uncomfortable.”
“So the shot started and the rope chair was moving but right in the middle, it stopped. The electricity was gone. I said ‘Dev saab, I can’t sit like this’. I didn’t want to put my whole weight on his lap. It was very very uncomfortable,” Hema added.
Johny Mera Naam went on to become one of the biggest hits in Hema Malini’s career, which was in its early stages at the time of the film’s release. The hit film was directed by Vijay Anand and the music of the film was composed by the duo Kalyan and Anand.