I am not bothered about what people say about me: Hema Malini

Hema Malini admits that she has to remain very careful about what she says in public. She was once again in the news after allegations were made that she illegally grabbed land for a dance academy at a nominal price. The veteran actor tells us that she will not react, every time there’s a controversy around her.

At the age of 67, Hema Malini has learnt an invaluable lesson – one should not talk much. The actor-turned-politician has been dogged by controversies, the most recent being alleged land grabbing for her dance academy at a nominal price. However, the actor says, “I have realised that I shouldn’t talk much. When you talk more, people misinterpret your statements and take out 100 other meanings.”

Actor Hema Malini talks about controversies that have surrounded her recently. (Prabhas Roy/HT photo)

The veteran actor says that she will not react every time there’s a controversy around her. “People just like to make a mountain of a molehill. Kuch hota hai nahi. Uskke bare mein itna baat karte hain aur usko itna bada bana dete hain. Agle din kuch milta nahi toh sab gayab ho jaatein hain,” she says. Explaining how she has changed over the years, “Earlier I used to get angry and irritated. Then, over the years I learnt to say ‘forget it’. That’s how I have learnt to deal with all these controversies.”

Read: Haven’t grabbed land, will follow govt rules: Hema Malini

During the course of the interview, she also talked about the car accident last year which resulted in the death of a little girl. “Even at that time everyone was busy maligning me and saying things like, ‘She shouldn’t have done this.’ There was a lot of emphasis on the word should. No one bothered to ask, how I was feeling, even I was injured,” she adds.

On juggling the roles of a politician, actor, danseuse and a mother, she says, “Sometimes it gets too taxing, especially, when Parliament is in session. I miss staying in Mumbai. Most of the time I am in Mathura. I am not complaining, I love it there as well. But I yearn to go to Mumbai sometimes.”