An afternoon of elegance, nostalgia, and cinematic legacy unfolded as legendary actor and Member of Parliament Hema Malini unveiled the la...
An afternoon of elegance, nostalgia, and cinematic
legacy unfolded as legendary actor and Member of Parliament Hema Malini
unveiled the latest issue of Society Achievers magazine, featuring iconic
filmmaker Ramesh Sippy on the cover.
Hosted at Hema Malini’s beautifully appointed
residence, the gathering was warm and filled with memories from one of Indian
cinema’s most celebrated eras.
Ramesh Sippy attended with his wife, actor Kiran
Joneja. The occasion brought together Ashok Dhamankar, Founder of Magnate
Publishing; Andrea CostaBir, Chief Editor of Society Achievers; Team Magnate
members Jayashree Dhamankar, Mario Ferreira, and Riya Sachdeva; along with Dr
(Hon) Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Founder, Naarad PR & Image Strategists, and
her team.
Conversations flowed effortlessly as friendships
were celebrated over delicious refreshments in a relaxed and affectionate
atmosphere.
Graceful and dignified as ever, Hema Malini spoke
fondly about Ramesh Sippy — her Sholay director and long-time friend —
revisiting shared memories, creative trust, and the deep mutual respect that
marked their collaboration.
She recalled the physical grit that filmmaking once
demanded, sharing how she had to dance barefoot on scorching stones during a
summer shoot. Her mother had tried to secretly protect her with concealed
footwear, but Sippy’s sharp eye caught it instantly.
“He told me to remove the slippers because it would
show on camera,” Hema Malini said with a smile. “After every shot, I had to sit
with a wet towel on my feet to soothe the burning. It wasn’t easy, but we
trusted our director completely.”
Speaking about Sholay, she revealed that Sippy had
once hesitated to offer her the role, unsure whether it was right for a leading
star to be part of a powerful ensemble instead of a solo-heroine narrative.
“But I believed in his instinct,” she said. “I
didn’t think about position. I thought about the story.”
Sippy reflected on that era with humility. “Every
actor in that film came with trust. We were working for the film, not for
ourselves,” he said.
Dharmendra was affectionately remembered by all,
with Sippy recalling the actor’s extraordinary commitment. “He once walked
nearly 50 kilometers to reach a shoot. He arrived at dawn, rested briefly, and
faced the camera without complaint,” Sippy shared.
“He is such a beautiful soul,” Hema ji added. “One
moment playful, the next deeply emotional. And what a phenomenal actor.”
She also revisited the legendary Sholay tank scene,
calling it immortal because Dharmendra brought so much of his real self into
the performance. With emotion in her voice, she added, “Hari bhai (Sanjeev
Kumar) would also have been very happy to see this cover.”
The conversation then shifted to today’s cinema,
where Hema Malini spoke about AI re-imaginings of classic characters and the
possibility of a new generation experiencing Sholay in a different form.
Sippy gently disagreed, saying, “Some films belong
to their time. They are made by moments and people you can never recreate.”
But Hema ji responded with warmth, “Maybe with new
characters. New talent. And maybe you could be the one to direct it.”
The unveiling became more than a magazine moment —
it was a celebration of trust, artistic courage, shared history, and the
timeless bonds that cinema creates.
As Ashok Dhamankar summed up, “This was never just
a cover launch. It was a tribute to cinema, friendship, and the magic that
happens when great storytellers believe in each other.”
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