In an era where relationships are short-lived and love tends to fail the longevity test, a lovely story has gone on quietly lasting more than seven decades. Actor Bobby Deol just shared an extremely intimate moment on Instagram—a very few photographs of his parents, Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur, on their 71st wedding anniversary. The photo went viral within minutes, not only due to the subjects, but due to the intensely ingrained narrative it speaks—a story of dedication, decisions, intricacies, and love that stood the test of time and glory.
"Happy Anniversary Maa and Papa": Bobby Deol's Emotional Tribute
The post itself was brief. A picture. A caption. But it said so much. Bobby Deol had written, “Happy anniversary Maa and Papa,” preceded by a set of heart emojis. That was all but to those who knew the history of the Deol family, the few words held decades of feeling.
The photograph featured Dharmendra with a garland draped around his neck, standing alongside a gentle-smiling Prakash Kaur. A calmness in their faces—a serene acceptance born of a shared life through the highs and lows, the sacrifices and joys.
The Beginning of Forever: Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur's Wedding in 1954
It was the year 1954. A 19-year-old boy from Punjab, Dharam Singh Deol, married Prakash Kaur in a family wedding ceremony. At that time, Dharmendra hadn’t even dreamed to be one of Bollywood’s biggest stars. He was just a young boy entering marital life, with the hopes of a simple life.
Dharmendra’s union with Prakash Kaur was an arranged marriage—a prevailing tradition of the era. The two lived away from the glitz and glamour, intent on family life and creating a life based on love and obligation.
The Rise of a Superstar: Dharmendra's Bollywood Journey
Soon after their wedding, Dharmendra’s fortune took a dramatic turn. In 1960, he entered filmdom with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. That came a maelstrom of stardom, fame, and iconic performances in such films as Phool Aur Patthar, Sholay, Satyakam, and Chupke Chupke.
With his good looks and powerful performances, Dharmendra soon became Bollywood’s ‘He-Man.’ Fame, however, carries a price tag, particularly when personal and professional lives start overlapping. And that’s where things started getting complicated in his personal life.
Love, Stardom, and Hema Malini: A New Chapter
Dharmendra encountered Hema Malini, the ‘Dream Girl’ of Bollywood, in the 1970s. Their on-screen couple managed to create magic on the big screen in movies such as Seeta Aur Geeta, Dream Girl, and The Burning Train. What began as a reel-life romance gradually grew into real-life love.
Even being married to Prem Adib, Dharmendra fell in love with Hema Malini. Their union was not without its challenges. Hema’s parents disapproved of the relationship, and Dharmendra was already married and had four children. Yet, love had its way. In 1980, after struggling for years and after opposition from their families, Dharmendra and Hema Malini married.
Still Together, Still Married: The Unchanging Bond with Prakash Kaur
What is sometimes lost or put on the backburner in this narrative is the unobtrusive strength of Prakash Kaur. Through all the entanglements and emotional turmoil arising from Dharmendra’s second marriage, she didn’t divorce him. The two remained legally wed. Prakash decided to lead a life off the media radar, one based on her convictions and quiet dignity.
In few interviews and public appearances, Prakash Kaur was characterized as a woman of strength—someone who withstood life’s trials with dignity. Though she never aired her views publicly regarding Dharmendra’s second marriage, her silence spoke volumes more than words ever could.
A Pillar of Strength: The Matriarch of the Deol Family
Prakash Kaur is still the pillar of the Deol family. She brought up her children—Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Ajeeta, and Vijeta—most of the time away from the limelight. Her control over the family, particularly over her sons, is beyond doubt. Sunny and Bobby have frequently mentioned the values she taught them—to be humble, loyal to the family, and privacy-conscious.
And while Dharmendra’s life in the public eye became a tapestry of success and headlines, Prakash Kaur’s was interwoven with silent sacrifice and unwavering support. And maybe that’s what made Bobby’s anniversary post so poignant—it was a celebration of her journey too.
Netizens React: A Wave of Nostalgia and Love
Bobby Deol’s rare picture that he posted saw both fans and celebrities take notice. The post’s comment section was filled with heart emojis, blessings, and heartfelt messages. Several users posted how they were touched by seeing the couple together after all those years, and a few even praised Bobby for honoring his mother, who has always kept away from the limelight.
Social media, usually replete with glamour, was silenced for a moment by a tender moment that reminded us of the old-school romance, the kind that rides out storms silently and remains rooted.
The Hema-Dharmendra Story: A Parallel Saga
Meanwhile, Hema Malini continues to share her own journey with Dharmendra. Last year, she posted anniversary pictures with him, captioned with love and poetry. She too, carved a space in Dharmendra’s life, and together, they raised two daughters—Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.
Hema Malini, politician, classical dancer, and actress, too, has walked the tightrope of public life with private poise. With the intricacy of their family dynamics, both families, Deol and Malini, too have managed to find their own equilibrium through the years.
A Cinematic Legacy: The Deol Clan's Impact on Indian Cinema
From Dharmendra’s era-defining performances to Sunny Deol’s patriotic action roles and Bobby Deol’s recent resurgence with projects like Aashram and Animal, the Deol family has carved an indelible niche in Bollywood.
And yet, the success of this film dynasty has always depended upon its familial values—something that Dharmendra, Sunny, and Bobby have all publicly admitted. Prakash Kaur, quite simply, is the unappreciated hero behind the dynasty. Her humble presence provided her children with the stability to rise, fall, and rise again.
Dharmendra at 88: A Career Still in Motion
Dharmendra remains active at 88. His recent outing in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, with Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, met with the audience’s approval. Next, he will be seen in Sriram Raghavan’s film Ikkis, co-starring Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson.
Even now, his love for films is still unreduced—a quality foreign to a career that has over six decades of experience.
The Quiet Love Story We Never Talk About
In a culture fixated with glam, glitz, and gossip, Dharmendra’s and Prakash Kaur’s love story is often not told. Perhaps because it doesn’t have the cinematic flair of new-age romance. Perhaps because it involves a kind of love that is becoming rarer in the world—steady, patient, and grounded in shared history rather than grand gestures.
Bobby Deol’s anniversary post was not merely a photo post. It was a quiet, poignant tribute to such love. The kind that never hit the headlines, but quietly kept a family intact.
Final Thoughts: Why This Moment Mattered
71 years of marriage is not only a milestone—it’s a testament to a bygone era, to values that are being lost in the sands of time. In one picture, Bobby reminded a whole generation that not all tales are loud, that not all loves require limelight.
Sometimes, the unbreakable bonds are the ones we don’t see on a daily basis. They’re the ones that withstand distance, silence, and the biting gusts of time.
And in this exceptional photo of Dharmendra with garland, standing next to Prakash Kaur, you don’t merely observe a couple—you observe resilience, forgiveness, remembrance, and above all… abiding love.
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