My interest was dance and, in the beginning, I didn't enjoy acting at all. It was my mother who brought me into films and who looked after my career. I remember each time a producer came to meet her, my only reaction was, 'Oh God, another year of my life gone.'

Hema Malini (born October 16, 1948) is a popular Indian film actress, director and producer, and most importantly an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. After initially starting as a dancer, she followed an acting career with debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar and from then on she has acted and directed in scores of popular Bollywood films. She is known by the epithet "Dream Girl" from the time of her debut film. She has continued with her repertoire of dancing performances. She has also released a music album of devotional songs scripted by Adi Shankarachrya. She is now also a politician and a member of Raja Sabha in the Parliament of India and belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is recipient of the national civilian award of Padma Shri, apart from numerous awards for her films and dancing. The Norwegian Government issued a postal stamp in her honour marking the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema at the Bollywood film festival held in Norway on 7 September 2012.