Esha Deol, daughter of Bollywood veterans Dharmendra and Hema Malini, made her acting debut in 2002 with Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe, but her path into the film industry was far from easy. In a recent interview with Hauterrfly, Esha revealed that despite her illustrious lineage, her father was initially opposed to her pursuing an acting career.

Dharmendra’s Traditional Views

Esha shared that her father, Dharmendra, wanted her to get married at the age of 18 rather than stepping into the film world. “He didn’t want me to enter films,” she said, explaining that his orthodox upbringing as a Punjabi influenced his thinking. “He wanted me to settle down and get married young because that was his conditioning. The women in his family were brought up that way.”

 

Despite Dharmendra’s reservations, Esha was deeply inspired by her mother, Hema Malini, who was a leading actress of her time. “My upbringing was different,” Esha explained. “Seeing my mom act in films and perform in dance gave me a sense of direction. It was ingrained inside me that I wanted to do something.”

Struggle for Acceptance

Convincing her father to allow her to pursue acting was not easy. “It took a long time,” she admitted, but eventually, Dharmendra came to terms with her choice. Today, their relationship has evolved, but the initial resistance left a lasting impact on Esha’s journey.

Esha also opened up about the challenges of being compared to her mother, a Bollywood icon. “I wasn’t prepared for the comparisons,” she confessed, adding that it made her feel uncomfortable. However, Hema Malini offered her advice, urging her to ignore the critics and reminding her that caring too much about others’ opinions meant she was in the wrong profession.

Personal Life and Career Hiatus

Esha took a break from acting after her 2011 film Tell Me O Kkhuda and married businessman Bharat Takhtani in 2012. The couple welcomed two daughters, Radhya in 2017 and Miraya in 2019. In February 2024, Esha and Bharat announced their separation.

Now, Esha is set to return to the big screen with upcoming projects, including Main and Hero Heroine, marking a new chapter in her career after years of focusing on family.

Her story is a testament to balancing familial expectations with personal aspirations, proving that success often comes with perseverance.