Showing posts with label Esha Deol daughter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Esha Deol daughter. Show all posts
Knowing my father, awards were never his measure of success-Esha Deol
3:02 PM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; June 8, 2026)
For Esha Deol, the past few months have been a mix of pride and grief. Recently, the actress shared an emotional note after her mother, Hema Malini, accepted the Padma Vibhushan on behalf of her father, Dharmendra, who passed away last November.
The moment, she says, brought back memories and a deep sense of longing. “I expressed my emotions because some moments deserve to be felt and shared. What I felt that day wasn’t just mine – it was something our family, his fans, and so many people who love him were feeling,” Esha says.
‘Seeing my mother accept the award on my father’s behalf was very emotional’
Reflecting on Dharmendra receiving the award, Esha says, “Yes, I believe he deserved this honour much earlier. He deserved many more, too – that’s what we feel. But honestly, knowing my father, awards were never his measure of success. The love and respect he received from people was always his greatest achievement.”
Recalling the ceremony, she says, “Seeing my mother accept the award on his behalf was deeply emotional. There was pride, gratitude and, of course, a wish that he could have been there himself.”
‘I miss him every single day’
Asked about her fondest memory of her father, Esha says choosing one is impossible. “Every phase of my life has had his presence in it. It’s very difficult to pick just one. It’s a lifetime. It’s 44 years of a daughter looking up to that one man, her father. Just to be able to hold his hand, hear his voice – I miss everything about him every single day, and I always will,” she says.
Remembering the nickname she had for him, Esha says, “I always called him my Teddy Bear, and today my bed is filled with teddy bears because it just reminds me of him. The loss never really leaves. You just learn to carry it. I carry him in my heart, and I carry his strength with me wherever I am now.”
Growing up as Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s daughter
Esha says being born to two of Indian cinema’s biggest stars has always felt like a blessing rather than it being a pressure on her career. “I always say I am blessed to be born to such beautiful human beings. My parents are one of a kind and irreplaceable. There can never be another Dharmendra or Hema Malini. I’m proud to be called Hema Malini aur Dharmendra ki beti – that’s the best identity I could have had, and I am grateful for it,” she says.
As a mother to daughters Radhya and Miraya, Esha hopes to pass on the values that she imbibed from her parents. “My kids see the love and respect I have for my parents, and that’s how they learn – to be humble, show respect and be kind,” she says.
‘Today there are better roles for actors across age groups’
For Esha, who will next be seen in the horror-comedy Ghunghat, motherhood has reshaped her priorities, making her more selective about the projects she chooses.
She believes, “As a mother, it’s natural that your priorities change. I want to be present for our children and be actively involved in raising them.”
She acknowledges that the roles coming her way today are different from those she was offered earlier in her career.
“I wouldn’t want to play a teenager in love today, I’m already done with that phase of my career. If I connect with a character and the project excites me, I’m happy to say yes. Today, there are far more interesting and meaningful roles available for actors across age groups, which is wonderful to see,” she shares.
‘Bharat and I are a team when it comes to co-parenting’
Speaking about life after her separation from Bharat Takhtani, Esha says parenting remains a joint effort.
“I would say that while I am single, I don’t see myself as a single mom. By the grace of God, Bharat and I are very much a team when it comes to co-parenting our daughters. We are a family, and our children will always come first. To give them love and affection and be the strong pillars of support for them, that’s something we are deeply committed to,” she explains.
You can’t troll every star kid making their debut-Esha Deol
9:16 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 16, 2025)
In a conversation with us, Esha Deol talks about the work that she enjoys doing, star kids getting trolled and reveals that she is single and believes in love. Excerpts:
‘I choose to do things that keep me in a happy space’
The actress, who made her Bollywood debut with Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe (2002) and has been a part of films like Dhoom, Yuva and Kaal, isn’t fond of the term ‘comeback’, and is quick to say, “Who’s trying to make a comeback? I have been an artiste who’s been working in this industry. I just tiptoe in whenever I feel like the time is right. I enjoy my work. I am glad that this year I did a film (Tumko Meri Kasam), which was a big-screen release, too. I choose to do things that keep me in a happy space,” she says.
‘You can’t troll every Star kid making their debut’
Reflecting on the industry today, Esha believes her debut era was far kinder compared to what star kids face now, especially with the rise of online trolling. “That was a much better time. Trolling is not right; you can’t do that to every kid born to an actor who’s making their debut. This is nonsense. They need to stop. People should give star kids a chance,” she says.
‘My daughters enjoy dancing to Dhoom Machale and Dilbara’
When it comes to her own children, Esha says her daughters — Radhya (8) and Miraya (6) — are far too young to consider joining Bollywood, though they’re already showing signs of being little movie buffs.
“Right now, the focus is on education. Otherwise, they enjoy watching everything. They are very filmi girls. They love doing make-up and dancing to all our songs. They enjoy dancing to my songs Dhoom Machale and Dilbara. My elder daughter likes my mom’s song Bhoot Raja Bahar Aaja. I think my mom introduced them to that song... I don’t know where they saw it (laughs).”
‘I will always believe in falling in love’
On the personal front, Esha and Bharat Takhtani divorced after 11 years of marriage. She shares, “I am single and not seeing anyone right now. Bharat and I are co-parenting our daughters. That’s something you chose to do because you love your kids so much.”
Ask her if she still believes in love, and she says, “I will always believe in falling in love. I think it is the most beautiful feeling and phase in a person’s life, and you should keep falling in love. Having love and companionship in life is wonderful. However, it is not your be-all and end-all.”
I was five or six months pregnant while shooting for Razia Sultan-Hema Malini
9:28 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (February 20, 2025)
Two generations of women, actor, dancer and politician Hema Malini and her daughter, actor Esha Deol, at the 10th International Women’s Conference, held over three days in Bengaluru, at a session namely ‘Circle of Wisdom’, shared their insights on the evolving roles of women, motherhood, and adapting to changing times. Key takeaways from the interaction
'I was five-six months pregnant while shooting for Razia Sultan': Hema
It was my dream to have a child. I was so excited when Esha was born, yet I continued my career as a dancer and actress. An actress's career has limitations, but a dancer's doesn't. I remember shooting even while pregnant with her. I was working on Razia Sultan — I think I was five or six months pregnant. If you're strong and determined, you can achieve anything. This was, of course, thanks to my family's support, my mother, my aunt, everyone. They took care of the children, allowing me to continue my dance and film careers. I was very particular, though. To avoid them missing school, I'd take them and drop them off myself. Then I'd go to shoots and come back early. I told producers I wouldn't do late shoots; they had to finish my work by 6 pm. I planned my life carefully to manage everything. Today, I see the same thing happening with my daughters and their children.
'I didn't insist that my daughters learn and do what I had': Hema
I was born into a very traditional Hyderabad family. My mother was a strong personality. She decided I would learn Bharatanatyam. My transition as a dancer was beautiful, though strict. I faced hardship; I wasn't allowed to play like other girls. But because of my own experience with my mother, I didn't want to impose the same on my girls. For a long time, I didn't insist they learn what I had. They happily went to school, jumped around, and played with friends. Eventually, I suggested Esha learn to dance. At first, she refused. Then I put her in Bharatanatyam. She found it difficult, but she was eager to learn. That's how she came into films. I was scared she wouldn't act properly. But she did.
'Today I learn a lot from my daughters': Hema
I'm a grandmother, but I learn much from my daughters. They have so much experience. My other daughter, Ahana is also a beautiful dancer. Today, she's a mother of three, including twins. I can't believe how she takes care of them. She never wanting to be influenced. Both are wonderful; I'm blessed.
'I thank each one of the women who made me what I am today': Esha
Growing up, I realized I was the daughter of the 'dream girl,' of Sita, Urbita, and so many other film characters. I grew up in a South Indian, almost all-women household — my grandmom, granddads, cousins — most of us were women, but strong-headed, strong personalities. I saw so many variations of what women could be within one household.
'Every day, I saw (my mother) getting ready, looking all pretty, and going to work. It fascinated me': Esha
Being a millennial, our generation witnessed maximum transition. Technically and emotionally, our generation went through much. We had freedom growing up. We strayed, but a strong foundation brought us back. Dance and films were inescapable. My mother’s makeup room was right in front of my bedroom. Every day, I saw her getting ready, looking all pretty, and going to work. It fascinated me. Dance ballets were choreographed in our house; we had a dance hall, and Gurus came. There was no escaping dance and culture. I see the same with my daughters, Radhya and Viraya. Dance has passed down through generations.
'After my first film, I was called chubby, compared to mom': Esha
At 18, I got into films. Like my mom said, I was very bindaas, carefree; I played football. When my first film released, I was a teen and had baby fat. After the movie’s release, I read the review. And in that, they wrote, ‘she’s chubby, she has baby fat’. And they started comparing me to my mom, which I was not prepared for. I thought, ‘okay, I've started acting, I'll act’. But it was not easy. And that was where I realized how to be focused on the goal without letting these affect me. I realized that people are going to keep comparing me to my mom, who's already a legend. So if you're going to let that affect you, you're not in the right profession.
'Back in the day, people liked, admired, or disliked us from a distance': Esha
My children are still young, and not yet on social media. When they get there, I'll see how I navigate that. I'm still getting used to it myself — like many from my generation. When we started in the public eye, working and being acknowledged through films or dance, there was no social media. We were used to that authentic, real connection through cinema halls or stage performances. People liked, admired, or disliked us from a distance. Our focus was purely on the performance and coming home. There were no paps, no calling them to the airport. It's how everyone functions today. I'm not complaining. But we didn't have that. Now, after my babies, it's a new space. We need a PR agency, we need to announce our whereabouts (unless it's work-related), social media, followers, likes, and comments — it's a lot. Many of my friends are mommy bloggers and social media influencers.
Inputs by Mehwash Hussain
My mother (Hema Malini) was quite chill. My parenting style is different-Esha Deol
8:13 AM
Raising two kids under six is a full-time job. Actress Esha Deol has a hectic shooting schedule to top that. Mommy to Radhya (6) and Miraya (4), Deol is gearing up to return to the big screen with her film ‘Main’. Neha Bhayana caught up with her to know how she juggles motherhood and acting
Neha Bhayana (THE TIMES OF INDIA; July 2, 2023)
With two kids under six, has a good night’s sleep become a luxury?
I just follow my kids’ schedule. I sleep when they sleep. We wake up early and eat together. Of course, when I’m shooting it’s a little difficult to match their sleeping and eating timing but when I am home, I follow their routine.
How do you deal with toddler tantrums? What’s the most embarrassing situation you have faced as a parent?
Tantrums are a part of growing up. You throw tantrums and you learn why you should not. When my kids throw a tantrum, I allow them to do so. Once they are done, I take over and explain why it’s wrong or not good for them and I tackle the reason for the tantrum. Some tantrums are cute though. Sometimes both of them want me to carry them at the same time or they both want to sit on my lap at the same time. That’s kind of funny.
Tiger mom or panda parent? Strict or soft? What’s your parenting style?
I am definitely a panda parent. I think giving your child space and allowing them to learn and make choices from a very young age is important in shaping them into who they are going to become. When they grow up, they should be confident and make their own choices and pursue their dream careers. I am there to support them. I also think it’s important to be a little strict when required so they learn to be disciplined and have respect for other human beings. But overall, I am very easy with them. I am all for a rooted, simple upbringing.
In what way is your parenting similar and in what way is it different from that of your mother’s?
My parenting is quite different from my mum’s. I think I am more like my (maternal) grandmum. My mum’s style is more chill. My grandmother was a hands-on sort of parent, watching over my mum most of the time. She was definitely a little stricter than my mother. I am a bit more possessive too.
Is junk food totally banned at your home or do the kiddos get to indulge in chips and chocolates?
I don’t believe in depriving my kids as I don’t want them to be alien to anything. Usually they have ghar ka khana only. But when we are out for a birthday party or when we are on a holiday, I love to let them experiment. Besides, what is childhood without chocolate (laughs). That’s part of growing up. I grew up eating chocolates. Of course, everything has to be eaten in moderation and under supervision. Similarly, watching a bit of television is fine. My girls enjoy watching cartoons. They have a set screen time.
Motherhood or career — what’s more rewarding?
A working mom can’t answer this question because she is a mother and she has chosen to work as well. I would not want to choose between these two. I love my kids. They are my life and that’s my personal world. I am equally passionate about my work. My profession keeps me out there. It is my drive. Both are very important parts of me, my personality and who I am today — a mother and an actor — so they go hand-in-hand. It is all about the art of balancing.
How do you strike the right balance?
Juggling work and kids is never easy. It is important to have a proper routine with your kids and for your kids and at the same time schedule your work accordingly. Of course, family support is also very important.
I was just a tomboy. My co-stars used to make fun of my hands-Esha Deol
8:19 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 28, 2021)
For the last decade, Esha Deol has focused on family life and motherhood, but now Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s daughter, feels it’s time for her comeback. In an earlier interview with us, she had expressed her interest in acting again, but now she says that she is also keen to produce films with her husband Bharat Takhtani. In a conversation with BT, she opens up about why sustaining in the industry was difficult for her and how she is excited about facing the camera again with some of her former colleagues. Excerpts:
The last time we saw you on the big screen, in a Bollywood movie, was in the 2011-film Tell Me O Kkhuda, which was directed by your mother. After that, you stepped away from films. What inspired you to make a comeback after a gap of 10 years?
One can’t make creative people sit at home for too long. Acting is that one thing that keeps me going. I left the field in 2011 because starting a family at that age was my priority. I enjoyed that phase of my life. When I was working, I had no time to date. It was only when I got married to Bharat that I experienced love. Otherwise, I was just a tomboy. My co-stars used to make fun of my hands. They would say, tere haath ki padegi toh malum padega sabko (laughs!). That was the kind of rapport I shared with my male co-stars. It was Bharat who changed me. We dated for a year before we got married. It was during that phase that I started investing time in getting dressed, wearing beautiful clothes, stilettos and going out for romantic dinners. It was Bharat who guided me through it. He knew me from my school and college days, so there was a good understanding between us.
The last 10 years have been magical, and it took away my attention from a lot of things (smiles). Thankfully, I am in good shape today and work is coming my way. I felt this was the right time to get back in front of the camera, as a set feels like home to me, and I love it there.
From your earlier stint in Bollywood, what were the learnings that you think will be helpful this time around?
When I started out, I was very young. The one thing I have learnt is that you need to be thick-skinned to sustain in showbiz. If you are from the industry, right from your first film, you are compared to your parents, who have such a large repertoire of work behind them, and that gets to you. It is not as easy as it’s been made out to be. Everyone goes through their struggles. In my way, I have dealt with it. What is important is that everyone works hard to achieve their goals. Life’s no fun without any hard work.
How have your friends from the industry reacted to your comeback? What do you have to say about the new breed of actors and how the industry functions today?
All my friends — Ajay (Devgn), Abhishek (Bachchan), Tusshar (Kapoor) — are very happy. They have been very encouraging. I am happy to be making a comeback as an actor with Ajay (for an OTT show). We have done around seven films together and have always shared a great rapport. Even back then, he guided me through many situations. I am grateful that filmmakers are reaching out to me with interesting scripts. OTT platforms have helped us move away from stereotypes. Overall, for an actor, it is a great time to do good work. Everyone performs so well today... even the newcomers look so seasoned and well-prepared. There is so much time spent on prep before a film goes on the floor. This wasn’t the case earlier. Today, there is an entourage that’s putting their time and energy to ensure that you are up to the mark. It is definitely not a one-man show anymore. As for me, I have worked hard before taking this step. I have shed my post-pregnancy weight. I am excited to work with the new set of filmmakers.
You are also getting into production with your husband, who isn’t from a film background. How is it working with him in the professional space?
Bharat is my constant support in whatever I do. It is nice to have your life partner as your colleague. He understands the creative part of a project, the technicalities and choosing the right scripts. He watches a lot of films and shows, so he has a good understanding of content as an audience, which helps him pick the right scripts, while I see projects from an actor’s point of view.
Have your daughters Radhya and Miraya watched your films or parent’s movies? How do they react when they see you on screen?
They enjoy watching my song Dilbara from the film Dhoom. They make me play it and dance to it. They also like the song Arey Zindagi Hai Khel from Seeta Aur Geeta, which starred my parents. They get excited when they see their nani walking the rope and their nanu doing a summersault in the song.
The defining change of motherhood has been confidence-Esha Deol
8:11 AM
Esha Deol puts together a parenting book that draws from her experiences, but also what she learnt about independence from her mother
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; March 29, 2020)
“What did you think of it?” Esha Deol asks this writer when we get on a phone call with her to discuss her book, Amma Mia (Penguin India).
We think her take on parenting is fresh, we say.
Instead of restricting her debut title to her role as mother, Deol goes back all the way to her own childhood, as daughter to Hindi cinema’s ’70s superstars Hema Malini and Dharmendra. It journeys gradually through her life, her romances and upbringing. It packs in recipes and tips for new moms, who Deol believes, could be “as clueless as I am”. Deol, 38, was raised in a home dominated by women, where she spent much of her time with her actor-politician mother, and sister Ahana. Her husband, Bharat Takhtani’s home was radically different. It’s these mixed experiences, she says, that have shaped her into the mother she is to daughters Miraya and Radhya.
Malini, an Iyengar Brahmin, served vegetarian fare at home. Deol laughs about making a run for friend Sonam Kapoor’s home to have a bite of anda curry. Takhtani lived in a joint family. Deol says he had a band of brothers, sisters and cousins milling at home, and never felt the need to go outside and make friends. “It was also a traditional household, where my mother-in-law was in command; the perfect homemaker. Before I got here, I didn’t know what a housewife was. She would cook and host guests beautifully. I am glad I experienced that before I had my children. I am now able to handle a household.”
Deol says she practiced a tradition called garbh sanskar, which believes that a would-be mother should be kept happy and in a pleasant space. “It’s during this phase that a sort of blue print of a new being, the child, is created,” she says. While the parents do all they can to safeguard and shape their children, inadvertently, it’s the children who mould them into the people they become. “My mother was a warrior princess; she could do everything a man could. I have imbibed that [fearlessness] from her. I am of strong character because of what I saw her do. And I also see that in my girls. They will decide what they wish to be. I will merely support them,” she shares.
Malini’s independence is evident in her daughter’s chatter when she says that she knew she had to include a chapter on working mothers. “We have all worked [hard] to build our lives; we can’t stop it [for motherhood], can we?”
Her acting stint in Bollywood may not have brought her the sort of success she had imagined, but she is clear she cannot severe the bond she shares with the movie-making world. “I have been working since I was 18. With web entertainment gaining influence in India, we have so much more to look forward to. A whole new world has opened up,” she says, hinting that a foray into film production might be on the cards.
Deol says she was caring for her second child while she put together the Amma Mia draft, allowing her to reflect on the challenges she grappled with as she went along. “I was facing issues and solving them [as I wrote the book]. And was able to share them. It has came from the heart.”
Does motherhood change you? “Yes, everything changes!” she laughs. “I am more domesticated and better organised, but the defining change has been confidence. That, and a keener sense of common sense. Both, priceless gifts.”
How to be a stellar mom
- Never hurry your child to eat, or force and blackmail them into eating. Let them take their time, and do it when they want.
- Introduce variety. This is a curious time for them, so let them try different flavours and cuisines.
- Try and include exercise into your routine as you can post pregnancy. Being sedentary will make you pile on more weight.
- If your toddler is fussy, start by paying attention, since they can't communicate through language just yet.
I love how Radhya and Miraya sound together-Esha Deol
7:49 AM
Esha Deol, who became a mother for the second time on June 10, reveals meaning of her girl’s name and how the family is celebrating
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 12, 2019)
Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtani, who welcomed daughter Radhya in October 2017, have become proud parents of another baby girl. On June 10, the couple’s second child, baby girl Miraya, was born at a suburban hospital under the supervision of their family gynaecologist, Dr Kiran Coelho.
According to Esha, the baby’s name is connected to her big sister’s. “When Lord Krishna worships Radha, it’s called Radhya, while Miraya means a devotee of Lord Krishna. Both the girls have that in common and I love how Radhya and Miraya sound together,” gushes the new mom, who got her actress-mother Hema Malini to take out 10 days from her busy schedule to be with the family.
Esha goes on to add that both sets of grandparents are over the moon with the new arrival as “for them it’s more the merrier with grandchildren”. “Celebrations had begun the moment we learnt that I was expecting. And the closer you get to the due date, the excitement in the house increases. Now, my sister (Ahana) and sisters-in-law will decorate the house,” she says.
She is overjoyed to welcome another girl into her family. Explaining the upside of having two kids, Esha says, “My sister and I shared a room for a long time, and so did my husband and his younger brother. We are going to get the girls to share the nursery that Noorien (Jumani, interior designer) had designed for us earlier. Now, she has tweaked the interiors to make room for Miraya. The girls are going to share a lot of things, from doll houses to clothes. We are also getting a play room ready.”
And how has Radhya responded to her baby sister? “The day she figured out that my stomach was getting bigger, we told her about the baby and she had been excited about it ever since. I am sure she will be a wonderful elder sister,” Esha signs off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)