Her time to shine News Archive News

She's got her mother's smile and her father's warmth, her poise and his graciousness. Yet Esha Deol, the offspring of two famous filmstar...

Written by Sunanda Mehta

January 19, 1999 12:00 AM IST

4 min read

She8217;s got her mother8217;s smile and her father8217;s warmth, her poise and his graciousness. Yet Esha Deol, the offspring of two famous filmstars 8211; Dharmendra and Hema Malini 8211; is very much her own person.

Sitting at the Osho Commune International with mother Hema, where the duo had come for a dance performance, Esha shows few signs of nervousness and some of fatigue. 8220;I was up all night finishing some submissions,8221; exclaims the 16-year-old who is trying to juggle her fledgling career as an Odissi dancer and academics, with her SSC examination barely a month and a half away.

8220;This is my third performance to date and I have just another one before returning to full-time studies,8221; reveals the Jamnabai Narsee School student. Having given her first performance in Mumbai just three months ago, followed by another one at the Governor8217;s bungalow, the show at the Commune is the first time Esha shares the stage with her mother. 8220;It8217;s a new and nice feeling,8221; she adds.

8220;Actually, she began learning dance just two years ago, showing little interest in it earlier,8221; adds Hema, sitting besides her. 8220;This move was apparently prompted by frequent queries by people about why she was not learning dance like me. However, she insisted on doing Odissi, not Bharatnatyam. I was so relieved that she actually wanted to learn classical dance that I readily agreed!8221;

Movies, however, seem a remote possibility, with Hema not keen on Esha committing herself to a career that would take up all her time and energy, leaving her little opportunity to enjoy other aspects of life. 8220;Like it happened to me,8221; she points out. And, of course, papa Dharmendra is absolutely opposed to the idea of his daughters joining the film line. But talk of Dharmendra and the teenager is all praise for the doting father. 8220;He is a little strict but his love for us is immeasurable. And beneath all that toughness, he has a real soft heart. Some years ago, all of us had gone abroad and I wanted to go shopping alone with Mama, just to tease my younger sister. She created quite a scene and Papa lost his temper. He gave me a long lecture on family values and sibling love. But in the end, he quietly slipped me the money I needed for shopping.8221;

No wonder then that Esha feels little need to rebel against Papa8217;s diktats. 8220;I have had a very normal upbringing, sans any filmi trappings. My school has enough celebrity children so I was never made to feel special. Most of my friends are from outside the industry. I am friends with Luv and Kush Shatrughan Sinha8217;s sons but that8217;s about it.8221;

In fact, rather than movies and dance, it8217;s sports and painting that Esha is most enthused about. 8220;I play football and handball and have won a whole lot of medals as a sportsperson. Another passion is painting, and alongwith dance, this is what I intend to pursue in life. It would especially come in use for the career I ultimately intend to take up 8211; interior designing,8221; reveals the determined and confident Scorpio, whose motto in life reads: 8220;Face your fears and live your dreams.8221; And she has every intention of doing this. A dream girl with a difference, this.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More

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