Hema Malini and Smita Patil honored by Bollywood industry peers

Indian cinema veterans Hema Malini and Smita Patil are being honored by colleagues and family members.

Hema Malini celebrated her 78th birthday on October 16. Fellow actors and politicians, including Shatrughan Sinha and Jackie Shroff, shared tributes on social media, praising her career as an actress and her skill as a classical dancer. Malini also recalled her role as Goddess Kali in the 1996 film ‘Jai Dakshineshwar Kali Maa’ during the festive occasion of Durga Saptami.

Separately, the industry marked the 71st birth anniversary of the late actress Smita Patil. Her husband, actor-politician Raj Babbar, paid an emotional tribute, describing her as an artist with ‘rare sensitivity’ whose legacy continues to inspire. Actor Avtar Gill also remembered their professional collaborations and personal friendship, while her son, Prateik, shared a heartfelt message calling her his ‘guardian angel’. Patil remains noted for her impactful portrayals of complex female characters in Indian cinema.