‘Humiliated’ Hema Malini was fired from debut film; Raj Kapoor saved the Dream Girl

Hema Malini, a former Bollywood star, recalls her turbulent journey into the world of cinema. At the tender age of 16, she was approached by South Indian filmmakers who saw potential in her. However, they decided to rename her Sujata and treated her with disrespect, calling her "Sujata from today." The humiliation led to her being dropped from her own debut film.

It wasn't until Raj Kapoor, who saw her talent, that Hema's career took off. Producer B Ananthaswami offered her a role in Raj's film, and Hema was chosen for her screen test. After her performance, Raj declared her as "the next superstar of Indian cinema," a statement that boosted her confidence. Hema was then signed for her debut film, Sapno Ka Saudagar, where she was promoted as 'Raj Kapoor's Dream Girl.'

Despite the age gap, the publicity worked in her favor, and she went on to become one of the biggest stars in the industry.