Glasierwellness at 18:43, 24 January 2026

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{{short description|Biography by Ram Kamal Mukherjee}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl
| image = Hema Malini- Beyond the Dream Girl.jpg
| caption =
| author = [[Ram Kamal Mukherjee]]
| audio_read_by = Sumit Kaul
| country = India
| language = English
| series =
| release_number =
| subject = [[Hema Malini]]
| genre = Biography
| set_in =
| publisher = [[HarperCollins]]
| published = 10 October 2017
| media_type = Print
| pages = 292
| isbn = 978-93-52773-22-0
| isbn_note =
| oclc =
| dewey =
| congress =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| notes =
| exclude_cover =
}}
'''''Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl''''' is a biography by the journalist and film director [[Ram Kamal Mukherjee]], edited by Nooshin Mowla. Divided into 23 chapters, it chronicles [[Hema Malini]]'s life and career. The book describes her background and personal life, including her birth in [[Ammankudi (Orathanadu)|Ammankudi]] in 1948, her early years in [[New Delhi]], her studies in [[Madras]] (now Chennai), and her marriage to the actor [[Dharmendra]]—with whom she has two daughters (including the actress [[Esha Deol]])—in 1980. Her 50-year-long acting, dancing, filmmaking, magazine editing, and political career are also detailed. The book was published by [[HarperCollins]] on 10 October 2017.

Mukherjee first published ''[[Hema Malini: Diva Unveiled]]'', a 2005 [[coffee table book]] on Malini that failed commercially and critically. It was followed by another book about the actress in 2007: ''[[Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography]]'', by the film critic and journalist [[Bhawana Somaaya]]. Over the years, Mukherjee observed Malini's life and realised there are many aspects not chronicled in the previous books. Mukherjee approached her with the idea; she was initially hesitant of the project, entitled ''Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl'', but he promised it would detail all her life's aspects. Following its release, the book received widespread critical acclaim.

== Summary ==
''Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl'' is divided into twenty-three chapters.

The book opens with a foreword by the [[Prime Minister of India]] [[Narendra Modi]], speaking of his excitement about the publishing of the biography, and an introduction from the author, [[Ram Kamal Mukherjee]]. It later chronicles [[Hema Malini]]'s early life, starting with her birth on the midnight of 15 October 1948 in [[Ammankudi (Orathanadu)|Ammankudi]] to a religious, traditional [[Iyengar]] family. Her father, Vengarai Srisailesha Rangaramanuja Chakravarti, was the regional director of the [[Employees' State Insurance]]; her mother, Jaya Chakravarthy, was a housewife and writer. She has two brothers, Kannan and Jagannath, and is the youngest between the two. Her childhood was spent in [[New Delhi]], and later she had her formal education at the Madras Educational Society School, [[Madras]] (present-day Chennai).

The book chronicles Malini's acting career, from debuting in the [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film ''[[Idhu Sathiyam]]'' (''This is a Promise'', 1963) and in [[Bollywood]] with the commercially unsuccessful romance ''[[Sapno Ka Saudagar]]'' (''The Merchant of Dreams'', 1968) to her stardom in the 1970s and 1980s. Apart from that, she is also a [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer and has performed it in several stage performances. In 1980, she married the actor [[Dharmendra]] and had two daughters: [[Esha Deol|Esha]] (later becomes an actress) and Ahaana. Her directorial debut, ''[[Dil Aashna Hai]]'' (''The Heart Knows the Truth''), starring [[Shah Rukh Khan]] and [[Divya Bharti]], was released in 1992. Malini also works as a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] politician, serving for the [[Rajya Sabha]] and, subsequently, the [[Lok Sabha]], and as a magazine editor. The book ends with an afterword by the filmmaker [[Ramesh Sippy]] and her filmography.

== Background and writing ==
In 2005, the then-''[[Stardust (magazine)|Stardust]]'' editor Ram Kamal Mukherjee published ''[[Hema Malini: Diva Unveiled]]'',{{sfn|Tankha 2005, 'Dream girl' unveiled}} which would become the only [[coffee table book]] on an Indian actress.{{sfn|''Asian World'' 2018, Exclusive interview with}} It also marked the first biography of the actress Hema Malini; the book did not succeed commercially due to its high price, and critics panned its grammatical mistakes.{{sfn|Chatterji 2017, A different take}} It ended up as a [[Collectable|collector's item]] but Mukherjee said the book gave him recognition as an author and helped him "find a new lease in [[Bollywood]]".{{sfn|Mukherjee 2017, Amazon Kindle version}}<sup>:9</sup> Another biography was published three years later by [[Bhawana Somaaya]], titled ''[[Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography]]'', which got more critical praise.{{sfn|Bamzai 2007, Dance & drama}} Asked why he wrote a second book on Malini, Mukherjee stated many things happened since the last time he wrote ''Diva Unveiled'' and he always wanted "a complete biography that would feature all facets" of her.{{sfn|Chatterji 2017, A different take}}

While ''Diva Unveiled'' was unauthorised, ''Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl'' was not. Mukherjee found Malini to be rarely discussing her personal life; he said that, when interviewing her for the book, he got much information on her that had never been published before. Though initially reluctant of the project since there had been two published books about her, Malini was eventually persuaded that ''Beyond the Dream Girl'' would cover all her life's aspects and "have a contemporary approach". He also interacted with her colleagues, film directors and producers, friends, and family members (including her daughters [[Esha Deol|Esha]] and Ahaana).{{sfn|Mukherjee 2017, Amazon Kindle version}}<sup>:9–12</sup> Writing started in 2015.{{sfn|Indo-Asian News Service 2017, Beyond the Dreamgirl}} According to Mukherjee, the research took several years, with one full year of research, another year of writing, and over a year in post-writing work.{{sfn|Chatterji 2017, A different take}}

{{blockquote
| quote="My detractors might probably feel that I can't think 'beyond' Hema Malini. But the fact remains that I wanted my work to reach out to a large readership. I wanted to tell a complete story. I wanted a good publisher to stand by me. This year Hema ... completed 50 years in Bollywood, and she is still so active. If you see the cover of the book you will know what I mean. Give me any other name, other than Hema who can look like this at 69!"
| source = Mukherjee on ''Beyond the Dream Girl''{{sfn|Chatterji 2017, A different take}}
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Beyond the Dream Girl'' was edited by Nooshin Mowla.{{sfn|Chatterji 2017, A different take}} It was released by [[HarperCollins]] on [[Amazon Kindle]] on 10 October 2017,{{sfn|Mukherjee 2017, Amazon Kindle version}} while its paperback version was released on 1 May 2018.{{sfn|Mukherjee 2018, Paperback version}} The audiobook edition, narrated by Sumit Kaul, was released on 1 January 2021.{{sfn|Mukherjee 2021, Audiobook version}} It received positive reviews from [[Literary criticism|literary critics]], who praised Mukherjee's writing. Joginder Tuteja of [[Bollywood Hungama]] gave the book three stars and, comparing it with Somaaya's ''The Authorized Biography'', wrote: "Unlike the last biography which was really text heavy and ended up turning you off as a reader, this biography is a lot more engaging ... the book is fair to the subject in question and it all boils down to what all and how much does she wishes to reveal about her personal life."{{sfn|Tuteja 2017, Book review}} ''[[The Free Press Journal]]'' praised Mukherjee's effort in researching for the book.{{sfn|''The Free Press Journal'' 2017, Hema Malini}}

Writing for ''[[The Asian Age]]'', Bhaichand Patel likened the book with a "public relations job" and added "Mukherjee takes everything she tells him as gospel truth".{{sfn|Patel 2017, Idolising hagiography that}} Ektaa Malik from ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote, "If you thought [the book], perhaps, answer all your questions about the various controversies [of] the actor over decades, you will be sorely disappointed. It’s not a no-holds-barred book. It’s at best a well-written Wikipedia entry."{{sfn|Malik 2017, ShelfLife}} ''[[Business Line]]''{{'s}} Sandhya Rao described it as a "surprisingly insightful portrait" of Malini.{{sfn|Rao 2018, Book review}} In ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]'', Oimar Alavi complimented Mukherjee's simpleness and objectiveness, but continued that his "constant inputs seem irrelevant. He fails to include many of [her] films from the 1980s, yet writes 'How I Feel About Hema' as if anyone interested in her career cares."{{sfn|Alavi 2018, Non-fiction}}

Reviewing it for the [[Malayalam]]-language newspaper ''[[Mathrubhumi]]'', Deepa Anthony took note of Mukherjee's neutrality throughout the book, especially that in the chapters of her highly publicised marriage to Dharmendra.{{sfn|Anthony 2017, Beyond the dream}} Arpita Das of ''[[Film Companion]]'' included it in her listing of "Top 7 Books on Cinema in 2018", writing, "There is a fearlessness that comes through in these pages ... Just a sense of a rock-solid personality who likes to meet her gaze every morning in the mirror and not feel uncomfortable doing so."{{sfn|Das 2018, Top 7 books}} For the book, Mukherjee won best-author trophies at the Rajasthan International Film Festival{{sfn|Box Office India 2018, Ram Kamal awarded}} and the Society Achievers' Awards.{{sfn|''Deccan Chronicle'' 2018, Ram Kamal Mukherjee}}

== Publication history ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col"|Region
! scope="col"|Release date
! scope="col"|Format
! scope="col"|Publisher
!{{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3" |India
|10 October 2017
|[[Amazon Kindle]]
| rowspan="3"|[[HarperCollins]]
| style="text-align: center;"|{{sfn|Mukherjee 2017, Amazon Kindle version}}
|-
|1 May 2018
|Paperback
| style="text-align: center;"|{{sfn|Mukherjee 2018, Paperback version}}
|-
|1 January 2021
|Audiobook
| style="text-align: center;"|{{sfn|Mukherjee 2021, Audiobook version}}
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{Cite news |last=Alavi |first=Oimar |date=11 February 2018 |title=Non-fiction: Girl of Bollywood's dreams |work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1388710 |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211090037/https://www.dawn.com/news/1388710 |archive-date=11 February 2018 |ref={{Sfnref|Alavi 2018, Non-fiction}}}}
* {{Cite news |last=Anthony |first=Deepa |date=13 December 2017 |title=സ്വപ്നനായികയ്ക്കുമപ്പുറം |language=ml |trans-title=Beyond the dream heroine |work=[[Mathrubhumi]] |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/book-reviews/hema-malini-hema-malini-beyond-the-dream-girl-1.2454297 |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213084746/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/book-reviews/hema-malini-hema-malini-beyond-the-dream-girl-1.2454297 |archive-date=13 December 2017 |ref={{Sfnref|Anthony 2017, Beyond the dream}}}}
* {{Cite news |last=Bamzai |first=Kaveree |date=2 April 2007 |title=Dance & drama |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19700101-hema-malini-the-authorised-biography-by-bhawana-somaaya-748588-2007-04-02 |url-status=live |access-date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622064343/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19700101-hema-malini-the-authorised-biography-by-bhawana-somaaya-748588-2007-04-02 |archive-date=22 June 2021 |ref={{Sfnref|Bamzai 2007, Dance & drama}}}}
* {{Cite news |last=Chatterji |first=Shoma |author-link=Shoma Chatterji |date=16 December 2017 |title=A different take on Hema Malini: Ram Kamal Mukherjee goes 'Beyond The Dream Girl' |work=The Citizen |url=https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/newsdetail/index/9/12532/a-different-take-on-hema-malini-ram-kamal-mukherjee-goes-beyond-the-dream-girl |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216082206/https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/newsdetail/index/9/12532/a-different-take-on-hema-malini-ram-kamal-mukherjee-goes-beyond-the-dream-girl |archive-date=16 December 2017 |ref={{Sfnref|Chatterji 2017, A different take}}}}
* {{Cite web |last=Das |first=Aprita |date=19 December 2018 |title=Top 7 books on cinema in 2018 |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/books/top-7-books-on-cinema-in-2018/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806153857/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/books/top-7-books-on-cinema-in-2018/ |archive-date=6 August 2020 |access-date=23 February 2021 |website=[[Film Companion]] |ref={{Sfnref|Das 2018, Top 7 books}}}}
* {{Cite news |date=24 July 2018 |title=Exclusive interview with Ram Kamal Mukherjee |work=Asian World |url=http://asianworldnews.co.uk/home/exclusive-interview-with-ram-kamal-mukherjee/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028025522/http://asianworldnews.co.uk/home/exclusive-interview-with-ram-kamal-mukherjee/ |archive-date=28 October 2021 |ref={{Sfnref|''Asian World'' 2018, Exclusive interview with}}}}
* {{Cite news |date=3 December 2017 |title=Hema Malini: Beyond the dream girl by Ram Kamal Mukherjee – Review |work=[[The Free Press Journal]] |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/book-reviews/hema-malini-beyond-the-dream-girl-by-ram-kamal-mukherjee |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502102942/https://www.freepressjournal.in/book-reviews/hema-malini-beyond-the-dream-girl-by-ram-kamal-mukherjee |archive-date=2 May 2021 |ref={{Sfnref|''The Free Press Journal'' 2017, Hema Malini}}}}
* {{Cite news |last=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |date=14 October 2017 |title=Beyond the Dreamgirl: Narendra Modi pens foreword for Hema Malini's biography |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/beyond-the-dreamgirl-narendra-modi-pens-foreword-for-hema-malini-s-biography/story-Q9WPbrtiB63gmvxgTFYYfJ.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502102941/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/beyond-the-dreamgirl-narendra-modi-pens-foreword-for-hema-malini-s-biography/story-Q9WPbrtiB63gmvxgTFYYfJ.html |archive-date=2 May 2021 |ref={{Sfnref|Indo-Asian News Service 2017, Beyond the Dreamgirl}}}}
* {{Cite news |last=Malik |first=Ektaa |date=18 November 2017 |title=ShelfLife: Star struck |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/shelflife-star-struck-4942528/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118223550/https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/shelflife-star-struck-4942528/ |archive-date=18 November 2017 |ref={{Sfnref|Malik 2017, ShelfLife}}}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Ram Kamal |title=Hema Malini |date=10 October 2017 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |asin=B075RVK9QP |ref={{Sfnref|Mukherjee 2017, Amazon Kindle version}} |author-link=Ram Kamal Mukherjee}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Ram Kamal |title=Hema Malini |date=1 May 2018 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-93-52773-22-0 |ref={{Sfnref|Mukherjee 2018, Paperback version}}}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Ram Kamal |title=Hema Malini |date=1 January 2021 |publisher=HarperCollins |asin=B08R6J93PK |ref={{Sfnref|Mukherjee 2021, Audiobook version}}}}
* {{Cite news |last=Patel |first=Bhaichand |date=26 November 2017 |title=Idolising hagiography that fails to take off |work=[[The Asian Age]] |url=https://www.asianage.com/books/261117/idolising-hagiography-that-fails-to-take-off.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124235146/https://www.asianage.com/books/261117/idolising-hagiography-that-fails-to-take-off.html |archive-date=24 November 2020 |ref={{Sfnref|Patel 2017, Idolising hagiography that}}}}
* {{Cite web |date=31 January 2018 |title=Ram Kamal awarded at RIFF |url=https://boxofficeindia.co.in/ram-kamal-awarded-riff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917075519/https://boxofficeindia.co.in/ram-kamal-awarded-riff |archive-date=17 September 2021 |access-date=17 September 2021 |website=[[Box Office India]] |ref={{Sfnref|Box Office India 2018, Ram Kamal awarded}}}}
* {{Cite news |date=19 January 2018 |title=Ram Kamal Mukherjee bags Society Achievers Best Author Award for his book |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/190118/ram-kamal-mukherjee-bags-society-achievers-best-author-award-for-his-book.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120035229/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/190118/ram-kamal-mukherjee-bags-society-achievers-best-author-award-for-his-book.html |archive-date=20 January 2018 |ref={{Sfnref|''Deccan Chronicle'' 2018, Ram Kamal Mukherjee}}}}
* {{Cite news |last=Rao |first=Sandhya |date=9 March 2018 |title=Book review: Dream Girl dreams |work=[[Business Line]] |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/books/book-review-dream-girl-dreams/article22305746.ece1 |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206022022/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/books/book-review-dream-girl-dreams/article22305746.ece1 |archive-date=6 December 2020 |ref={{Sfnref|Rao 2018, Book review}}}}
* {{Cite news |last=Tankha |first=Madhur |date=10 March 2005 |title='Dream girl' unveiled |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/dream-girl-unveiled/article28681629.ece |url-status=live |access-date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007084415/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/dream-girl-unveiled/article28681629.ece |archive-date=7 October 2021 |ref={{Sfnref|Tankha 2005, 'Dream girl' unveiled}}}}
* {{Cite web |last=Tuteja |first=Joginder |date=7 November 2017 |title=Book review: Hema Malini – Beyond the Dream Girl |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/book-review-hema-malini-beyond-dream-girl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109075058/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/book-review-hema-malini-beyond-dream-girl/ |archive-date=9 November 2017 |access-date=16 September 2021 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |ref={{Sfnref|Tuteja 2017, Book review}}}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Google Books|id=qx86DwAAQBAJ}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2017 non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Biographies about actors]]
[[Category:Indian biographies]]
[[Category:HarperCollins books]]

Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl - Revision history

Glasierwellness at 18:43, 24 January 2026