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The legendary actress reflected on how this experience, though disappointing at the time, shaped her journey in the film industry. During her early appearance on the popular talk show “Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai,” Hema revealed she was offered a role in a Tamil film. Although she had started working on it, the project didn’t move forward because the material wasn’t strong, and she was new to acting at the time. Her expressions and dialogue delivery, shaped by dance, didn’t match the expectations of the filmmaker, and her slim physique was considered a drawback for the South Indian audience of that era.

Hema Malini admitted that being rejected for the role initially felt like a personal failure and left her upset.

The ‘Sholay’ actress recalled, “There was an offer in Tamil film. I started the work. But somehow the material was not good. Because those days, there was no acting school. So, I was absolutely so new to this acting field. I only knew dance. Through dance, whatever expression I do or whatever dialogue I say, it was like that. But they somehow found I am not very correct. And I was very slim. I should say slim or thin. I don't know. I was very thin.”

“For the south audience, you know, those days the heroines were quite the healthy type. I was not like that. So, this was the drawback. So, it was good that I didn't do it. But at that time, I was thinking why did I do it? All these offers came. Because it was like a failure for me. I could not. They rejected me and all this. I felt very upset about it.”

The celebrity talk show, hosted by Farooq Shaikh, honored Hema Malini’s remarkable journey, with family and friends highlighting her disciplined lifestyle and enduring love for dance. The episode also included touching messages from renowned celebrities, including Jeetendra and Dharmendra, making it a heartfelt tribute to the actress.

- IANS