Bollywood's Tragic Romance: Sanjeev Kumar's Unrequited Love for Hema Malini

In 2025, veteran journalist Hanif Zaveri, who wrote the authorized biography of acclaimed actor Sanjeev Kumar, has shed light on the actor's unrequited love for Hema Malini. According to Zaveri, Sanjeev and Hema were in a serious relationship during the making of their film 'Seeta Aur Geeta' in the past. Sanjeev had even proposed to Hema, but their relationship ended when her mother set a condition that Hema would continue working after marriage, while Sanjeev wanted his wife to stay at home.

Zaveri revealed that Sanjeev was deeply in love with Hema and was heartbroken after their breakup. The separation had professional consequences as well, with Sanjeev refusing to work with Hema in films like 'Dhoop Chaav' and 'Apne Dushman' after their split. Sanjeev also found it difficult to even face Hema on set, as he was still emotionally affected by the failed relationship.

Zaveri also discussed Sanjeev's other relationships, including with actress Nutan, and how he had an intuition that he would not live long, leading him to reject marriage proposals from other women like Sulakshana Pandit. The article paints a poignant picture of Sanjeev Kumar's personal life and the impact his unrequited love for Hema Malini had on his career and emotional well-being.