For movie buffs, Hema Malini' was as important as the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, and Dharmendra. And filmmakers validated these claims by paying her at par with her male stars. Her dominance was unprecedented and almost all of it was a result of her unmatched beauty and grace. Surely it was her prowess in Bharat Natyam that gave her that phenomenal poise and grace.

Legend has it that a 15-year-old Hema Malini was rejected by the Tamil film industry for being too skinny. Call it a blessing in disguise because it was only after the rejection that Hema was able to concentrate on her dancing and become a Bharat Natyam specialist while biding time for her film debut. It was five years later that producer Ananthaswamy offered her a dream role opposite Raj Kapoor in Sapnon Ka Saudagar. From Sapnon Ka Saudagar to Baghban… we list down the best work of The Dream Girl.

Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968)
She played Mahi a princess-like village girl who captured the imagination of a gentleman in rural India, played by Raj Kapoor. He sold dreams, she looked like a dream and the rest fell in place. Fancy clothing and her beauty made Hema look the perfect dream girl. A formal sobriquet wasn’t bestowed on her back then but filmgoers knew they’d found a real dream lady.

Johny Mera Naam (1970)
The dream girl Hema paced her career. She starred in a few masala films like Waris (1968) and Sharafat (1969) (her first film with Dharmendra). But the big break came when Vijay Anand and Dev Anand cast her in Johny Mera Naam. People weren’t expecting it to do well, especially since it was in the wake of a similar sounding film, Mera Naam Joker. But fate had other plans. Joker flopped; Johny became a cult hit. And right at the center of all the action was a resuscitated career for Dev Anand and possibly the most beautiful woman people had seen on screen since Madhubala. That’s not all, this young lady could dance like a dream, do comedy scenes with Anand and Pran and even do action. Producers had found their golden goose.

Seeta Aur Geeta (1972)
They say if you haven’t done a double role you haven’t attained stardom. That thought started with Seeta Aur Geeta. Hema Malini played the role of twin sisters - one submissive and the other feisty. And what a contrast they were. Her bits as the fiery Geeta were full of humour and perfect comic timing. She made you laugh and cry in turn with consummate ease. No wonder she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. This performance of Hema Malini is only overshadowed by her Basanti in Sholay. That’s the relevance of Seeta Aur Geeta to Hema’s career.

Khushboo (1975)
The Smita Patils and the Shabana Azmis were making waves in alternate cinema and winning critical accolades. Commercial doll Hema Malini was not to be left behind in the race. In this Gulzar film about lost and found love, Hema played a simple girl with a broken heart. Kusum (Hema) was betrothed to Brindaban (Jeetendra) when they were kids. They’re separated and many years later he returns but with a child of his own. The movie deals with reconciliation as Kusum develops a bond with Brindaban’s son and finally unites with Brindaban. Masterful underplay and a wide range of restrained emotions helped Hema ace her role.

Sholay (1975)
Chatter makes noise but in the case of Sholay and Basanti, it makes movie legends. Amongst the many other things we remember this classic by, one is the constant rattle with which Hema Malini livens up the screen. In a movie about larger-than-life heroes, for a woman to hold her own speaks volumes for the actress. The Basanti-Dhanno (her horse) connection, the Basanti-Veeru romance, and the Jab tak hain jaan dance are the testimony to the fact that Hema was actress number one.

Baghban (2003)
Throughout the ’90s right up to 2000, Hema Malini featured in run-of-the-mill middle-aged lady roles. Whether it was playing the autocratic mother in Jamai Raja or a guest appearance in Lekin, Hema maintained an air of dignity even though her roles were nothing to talk about. Hema made a comeback of sorts in 2003 with Baghban. The role was meaty, especially since she was dealing with insensitive sons and craving the company of her husband (Amitabh Bachchan). But what really made people stand up and take notice was how beautiful Hema looked at the ripe age of 56. And as was the case through her career, no one took notice of her accentuated dialogue delivery because everyone was too busy being enamored by her ageless beauty.