Was Dharmendra secretly married to Meena Kumari? Or was he just a ‘fan’?

While the rumour mills of the time, during the hey days of Dharmendra were always in over-drive when it came to his love life, there were some noises which were undeniably very vocal.

The whispers were loud enough to be heard all over Bollywood, from the lanes of Bandra’s Pali Hill to Juhu, Lokhandwala and even the huge green expanse of Goregaon’s Film City.

Among Dharmendraji’s many rumoured affairs, it was Meena Kumari whose bond with Dharmendra remains one of Bollywood’s most emotional and mysterious chapters. Some say they were even secretly married, a rumour that has never been validated till death, as both of them vehemently denied it.

According to News18.com, Meena Kumari, the ‘Tragedy Queen of Bollywood,’ who was one of the top actresses of her time, fell deeply in love with Dharmendra despite being married to filmmaker c. Trapped in a failing marriage with a fifteen-year-older man and already a father of three, she found comfort and companionship in Dharmendra at her most vulnerable phase. Meena Kumari was a bit more vocal and on some occasions  even admitted her love for Dharam ji.

The Garam Dharma always denied any intimacy only saying he was a great and ardent fan of Meena Kumari who was a big star at that time and was helping him like a mentor.

 Their closeness grew during films like Purnima, Kajal, Phool Aur Pathar, and Baaharon Ki Manzil, fueling rumours across the industry, which even led to some wild fire accusations and rumours flying high and thick during that time.

Meena Kumari trusted and believed in him like no one else. Meena Kumari reportedly recommended Dharmendra to filmmakers and producers, when she was at her peak, playing a major role in shaping his rise as a Bollywood superstar.

There were several stories written about how Kamal Amrohi took revenge on Dharmendra by once refusing him a role in his film, opposite Meena Kumari and on another occasion making him cover his entire body in black paint in the sorching sun.

Battling depression, loneliness and alcoholism, Meena Kumari’s health deteriorated even though she was very young. She passed away at just 38. After her death, close friend and fellow actress Nargis who knew her life and secrets, penned a deeply emotional letter, included in Yasir Abbasi’s book Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai. In her letter, she says Meena Kumari’s deepest emotional bond was with actor Dharmendra – while she only claims that the two were friends or emotional buddies, the rumours mills alleged they were in a serious love relationship. Though never publicly acknowledged as a couple, their closeness was well known in the industry.