Veteran Bollywood actress and politician Hema Malini recently named Deepika Padukone as her preferred choice to portray her in a biopic, should one ever be made.

The veteran star, who recently celebrated 60 glorious years in Indian cinema with a grand Diamond Jubilee event in Mumbai, was asked whether she sees Deepika as the ideal actor to play her on screen. Responding to the question, she said, "If she wants to, she can do it. Anyone can do it. Deepika is a beautiful and talented girl."

Interestingly, this isn't the first time Hema has publicly expressed her admiration for Deepika. Back in 2015, she had chosen the actress to launch her biography, Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl, written by Ram Kamal Mukherjee. The two also share a fascinating cinematic connection. Deepika's Bollywood debut, Om Shanti Om, saw her play the iconic character Shantipriya, whose look and screen persona were inspired by Hema Malini. In the film, Shantipriya is even referred to as the Dream Girl, a title that has been synonymous with Hema throughout her illustrious career.

Following the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Hema Malini took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank everyone for making the occasion memorable. Sharing photos from the evening, she wrote, "What a memorable and wonderfully organised event. The celebration of my years in the film industry (Diamond Jubilee) was conducted with such pomp and grandeur that it was truly incredible. The wonderful audience in the auditorium seemed completely immersed in the music of my films, and they stayed until the very end."

Known as Bollywood's Dream Girl, Hema Malini made her acting debut with Sapno Ka Saudagar in 1968 and went on to become one of Hindi cinema's biggest stars through the 1970s and 1980s. With iconic films such as Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Dream Girl, Satte Pe Satta, Baghban and more to her credit, she remains one of Indian cinema's most celebrated actors. Apart from films, she is also an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer and serves as a Member of Parliament from Mathura.

Talking of Deepika, she will be seen in Shah Rukh Khan's King and Allu Arjun's Raaka. She is also expecting her second child.

Source: Film Fare

--Agencies