Bollywood's iconic couple, Hema Malini and Dharmendra, have often been seen as a united front. However, a recent family event has sparked whispers about their personal dynamics. Hema Malini organized a separate prayer ceremony in memory of her late mother, Jaya Chakravarthy, a gathering notably absent of her husband and famous sons-in-law.
A Solemn Tribute to a Mother
The event was a shraddh ceremony and havan, a traditional Hindu prayer ritual for the departed soul. It was held on January 5, 2026, at Hema Malini's residence in Mumbai. The actress, along with her daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol, performed the rites to honour Jaya Chakravarthy's memory. The atmosphere was one of devotion and familial piety, focused solely on the maternal lineage.
Notable Absences Raise Eyebrows
What made this gathering a talking point was the list of those who were not present. Dharmendra, Hema Malini's husband of decades, was not seen at the event. Furthermore, their high-profile sons-in-law—Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol—were also absent. This separation of the prayer meet from the main Deol family unit led to immediate speculation and questions from fans and media observers alike.
Images and reports from the ceremony showed Hema Malini dressed in a simple, traditional white saree, deeply engaged in the rituals with her daughters. The absence of the Deol men stood in stark contrast to typical family portraits where the entire clan is often seen together for major occasions, whether festive or solemn.
Context and Public Reaction
This incident gains significance against the backdrop of the Deol family's recent professional highs. Both Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol have witnessed major career resurgences. Sunny's blockbuster Gadar 2 and Bobby's critically acclaimed role in Animal have kept the family in the limelight. The separation of this religious function has thus become a focal point for discussions on personal versus public family life.
While no official statement has been released by the family regarding the separate arrangements, the event has undoubtedly fueled discussions about the internal dynamics of one of Bollywood's most beloved families. It highlights how even in closely-knit celebrity families, individual traditions and maternal family obligations are sometimes observed separately.
The public and media are now keenly watching for the family's next public appearance together to see if this indicates a lasting shift or was simply a one-off observance of a personal tradition by Hema Malini and her daughters.
