Esha Deol is the talented daughter of Hema Malini and Dharmendra. She learnt classical dance from her mother since childhood. Her lineage and good looks ensured her an entry in films. She made her debut in Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe (2002), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Debut (Female). Following a series of successful films, Dhoom (2004), Kaal, Dus and No Entry (all 2005), she went through a spate of films that didn’t fare well at the box-office. She then got married to businessman Bharat Takhtani in 2012 and became a mother to daughters Radhya and Miraya in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Now that her kids don’t need her full-time attention, Esha has made a move back to acting. She was appreciated for her roles in the OTT series Rudra: The Edge Of Darkness and Hunter Tootega Nahi Todega. The actor comes clean about facing the limelight once more and the empowering magic of motherhood. Excerpts:
Your work on the OTT in Rudra and Hunter has made people sit up and take notice of you once more. Are you having fun at this stage?
Rudra is my second OTT web series. This is my second inning. I began working on OTT with Ajay Devgn and then with Anna (Sunil Shetty). So because these are people I’ve already worked with, it didn’t feel like I’d left. Rudra and Hunter have both been well received, which is encouraging. When people appreciate and enjoy what you give them, you feel good. I hope to work on many more worthwhile projects in the future. OTT and films, in my opinion, are good jugalbandi for any artiste. There are many stories that need to be told. And if OTT provides you with a platform, that is fantastic.
You like action, don’t you? Who are your sources of inspiration for this genre?
(Laughs) Of course, I grew up with Dharmendra, also known as the He Man. I’ve seen all of his films. But aside from that, I’ve always been an athlete. I’m also a big fan of Sylvester Stallone. The only thing I haven’t done is get his name and photo tattooed on my hand. So I enjoy watching these manly men on screen. There is Mars energy in women as well. If you can enjoy it, bring it out. Don’t hide it and just be Miss Venus.
Do you consider Dhoom to be your seminal work?
Dhoom has undoubtedly provided me with my image today. People still call out to me, ‘Hello, Dhoom girl,’ or tell me they still love the song, Dhoom macha de, wherever I go. People immediately associate Esha Deol with that film when they hear my name. And I’m grateful for it today because not many projects have this kind of recall value.
You took a long break from the spotlight. What did that time teach you?
I took a break to enjoy being a mother. Motherhood is the most wonderful experience. It makes me happy to be the mother of two lovely daughters. I believe that embracing motherhood for the first time is a beautiful stage in any woman’s life. There is a magical transformation that takes place from within. For the first time, I wrote a book called Amma Mia! about being a mother. I’ve written extensively on the subject. I believe it is a woman’s rebirth. You are literally born again with your baby. However, motherhood is not easy. There is always stress but there is stress everywhere. However, whether you’re an actor or a mother, it’s critical that you have patience under pressure. You must be patient, and, as previously stated, family support is essential. If today’s woman is a mother who wants to work, the support of her family is critical.
In that case, how supportive is your husband, Bharat Takhtani?
Bharat is an amazing person and a fantastic father. He’s a nice person with a good heart. He always encouraged me to return to work, and we, like many working couples, have an understanding. You must strike a balance and use common sense. My home is a melting pot of cultures. We eat Dal Pakwan as well as Rasam rice.
As a mother, what one quality do you want to instil in your children?
There isn’t just one quality that you want your daughters to have, there are many. We have made many decisions in our journey as women thus far. We’ve made mistakes. And you know from yours that you don’t want your children to make the same ones.
What parenting advice did your mother give you?
No, she doesn’t give advice like “do it this way or that.” But as a mother, I learnt a lot from the way she raised us. I use that in my life as a mother. We don’t like being constantly advised by our parents when we’re young. We only realise the love behind their advice when we become parents ourselves. We begin to appreciate them more.
How are Hema Malini and Dharmendra as grandparents?
They’re so adorable. They spoil the kids and enjoy spending time with them when I am at work or when they babysit. Mama and Papa are excellent babysitters.
Do you have time to spend as a family?
(Smiles) We all like to eat together. I believe that the best conversations occur when everyone is enjoying good food. There are so many activities going on when there are so many of us, and it’s entertaining.
When it comes to eating habits, an actor must maintain a certain level of discipline. How difficult is it to stick to a diet?
It’s not difficult for me because I’ve always eaten simply. Hence, I’m not giving up something I’ll crave while on a diet. Every day as a kid, we had idli sambar, dosa sambar, and chatini for breakfast. We’d eat quickly and rush to school. Of course, when we started working, the same thing happened. We didn’t get long lunch breaks. And as heroines, we were subjected to constant make-up. My hair was usually done while I was eating on the sets. We were expected to eat quickly and then return to work. It was more about getting your stomach full than about enjoying your food. Mom, like me, is a fuss-free eater. Papa is more of a foodie.
Do you think you’ve grown as a person and an actor over the years?
As a person, motherhood has provided me with a sense of balance, maturity, and wisdom that I did not have in my twenties. You are naive and make rash decisions at that age. That was how I was. Now things are different. Maturity develops with time and experience.As an actor, I choose material that reflects my current mentality and way of thinking.
Do you ever feel bad about making rash decisions?
I don’t regret them because I did things that any girl in her twenties would do. But there were a couple of films I turned down that ended up being huge hits. I’m not sure why I said no.
You’ve previously worked with Abhishek Bachchan, Tusshar Kapoor and Uday Chopra. Are you in contact with them?
Tusshar, Zayed Khan, Fardeen and Abhishek are some of my closest friends. So obviously I keep in touch with them. We have many fond memories that we have shared through the majority of the films we have made. And now that most of us are parents, We have different conversations. Most of us are also returning to work. So we keep in touch and are always rooting for one another.
How has the industry evolved in recent years?
I believe that the corporate structure is more prevalent today than it was in the past. There are a lot more people on set. A particular actor will not be accompanied by only two or three people, like in the past. They’ll have a battalion of people looking after them at all times.
What is your least favourite aspect of show business?
I despise it when people think it’s acceptable to be disrespectful. Everyone should be treated with dignity. Respect can manifest itself in a variety of ways. If someone reacts to you in a certain way, you must respect that reaction. Before you react angrily, try to put yourself in that person’s shoes. Everyone
is a human being; everyone has emotions; everyone
has a heart; and everyone will laugh, cry, feel bad, or feel good. So you are not alone in your feelings, nor are you superior to everyone else.
