‘My only close friend in the industry is Rekha’

"My close friends are all from outside the industry, except Rekha. We're very fond of each other over the years. We've been colleagues and friends for decades," she added.

Hema and Rekha featured in Feroz Khan's Dharmatma, but they didn't have any scenes together.

The actress, who is gearing up to play erstwhile Gwalior queen Vijayaraje Scindia in the movie Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi, says she had her first birthday party when she turned 16.

"I don't remember any birthday party as a child. Even that 16th birthday party was organised by my producer Ananthswamy who discovered me for Hindi cinema in 'Sapnon Ka Saudagar'. It was when he insisted that I have a birthday party I realised, 'My god, you have party on your birthday?'"

So what makes this birthday so special?

You tell me. People like you make it special for me.

My mother never celebrated my or mine or my brother's birthday. I don't know why! Looking back it seems so funny. Sad, no? I think birthdays are big in North India, not so big in the South.

So after 16 you became addicted to birthday parties?

Once you become a star, everyone is eager to celebrate your birthday. There would be a cake on the sets, co-artistes singing for me. I started looking forward to my birthdays.

So how did you bring in your birthday this year?

It started nicely enough two evening earlier with the 'mahurat' of Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi where I play Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia. I met Vinod Khanna, my parliamentarian colleague who plays my co-star. He's looking so good these days. We had done one of my favourite films Meera together many years ago. Now we're doing another film in the same Rajasthani ambience.

And your fans, how do they connect on your birthday?

There're some fans for years who would go crazy if I don't let them wish me. I make it a point to take their call on my birthday. There's a lady from Nasik Lata Shirke. She's so fond of me. She sends all kinds of gifts like perfumes. I truly value this kind of love. And when you say no one in the industry speaks badly of me I feel my life is worth it.

When you visited Tirupati on your birthday what did you pray for?

I hardly have anything to ask for. I just want to be doing the right things in life. And to create new opportunities for myself. Also, I'd like to produce a film with Esha in the lead. I don't know why that isn't happening as quickly as I want.