Esha Deol Takhtani[1] (born 2 November 1981) is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Hindi films. The daughter of actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini, Deol made her acting debut in Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe (2002), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.[2] Following a series of poorly received films, she played one of the leading ladies in the commercially successful films Dhoom (2004), Kaal, Dus, and No Entry (all 2005). This was followed by a setback and a hiatus. She returned to acting with the web series Rudra: The Edge of Darkness in 2022.
Early life
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Esha Deol was born in Bombay (present Mumbai) on 2 November 1981.[3][4] She is the elder daughter of Bollywood actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini. She has a younger sister named Ahana.[5] She is the half sister of actors Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol and first cousin of actor Abhay Deol.Template:Citation needed Her father is Punjabi Jat,[6] and her mother Tamil Hindu Iyengar Brahmin.[7][8] She speaks Tamil with her mother and sister.[9][10]
During her school days at Jamnabai Narsee School, she was passionate about football and played as a midfielder. She was the captain of her school football team, represented her college in handball at the state level. She played as a national level footballer and was also selected to play for Maharashtra in the Senior National Championship at Punjab in 2001.[11][12]
Career
Debut and early work (2002–2003)
She started her acting career in a lead role with Vinay Shukla's Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe (2002) opposite Aftab Shivdasani, with Sanjay Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan and Anupam Kher playing supporting roles. The movie was a box office failure. Deol received mixed reactions from critics upon her performance. Savera R Someshwar of Rediff.com wrote "Esha, as a person, exudes a confidence that almost borders on arrogance."[13] Rakesh Budhu of Planet Bollywood wrote "She isn't horrible, but given the hype, the demands and of course, comparisons, she surely isn't up to the mark. … Of course, she is nowhere close to being a washout and if you are her fan you can appreciate the other aspects of her performances without completely losing faith in her future projects."[14] Despite mixed reactions and box office failure, Deol won numerous awards for her performance including the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut at the 48th Filmfare Awards.[2]
Deol's second film was Arjun Sablok's love triangle Na Tum Jaano Na Hum opposite Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan. Taran Adarsh of IndiaFm praised her acting and wrote "it is Esha Deol who surprises you with a mature performance. Although her looks are inconsistent, the youngster takes on the role with utmost sincerity and comes out with a natural performance. She has been better presented when compared to her debut film."[15] Bhavna Giani of Rediff praised Deol's acting and dancing and compared it to Deol's mother Hema Malini.[16] Deol's third and final release of the year was Sanjay Chhel's Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa opposite Tusshar Kapoor. It was Deol's third consecutive flop but she earned critical acclaim and Taran Adarsh observed that it was her better performance as compared to her previous two films.[17]
Deol's first two movies of 2003: Kucch To Hai and Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne were box office failures. For Kucch To Hai, Deol earned mixed reviews from Taran Adarsh, who wrote "Esha Deol shows improvement in terms of performance as well as her overall appearance."[18] Taran Adarsh considered Deol to be "alright" in Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne.[19]
Deol was one of the heroines of J.P. Dutta's multi starrer war epic LOC: Kargil and was paired with Abhishek Bachchan. Though Deol and all the other heroines could not get much scope, she earned critical acclaim for her performance.[20][21] The film became the sixth highest-grossing film of the year.[22]
Breakthrough and success (2004–2008)
In 2004, Deol made her debut in Tamil cinema by playing a French teacher in Mani Ratnam's political film Aayutha Ezhuthu opposite Suriya. She earned critical acclaim for her performance. Sify.com defined her as "surprisingly fresh and sparkling".[23] To prepare for her role, Deol learned nuances of the language with Mani Ratnam's assistant R. Kannan. This was the only Tamil film she ever acted in. After completing Aaytha Ezhuthu, Deol started filming the Hindi version of the movie titled Yuva.[24] In Yuva, Deol repeated the same role and was paired opposite Ajay Devgn. Both movies were released on the same date but could not attain success. Yuva had a below average opening and flopped at the box office.[25]
Deol finally got her breakthrough with Yash Raj Films' action film Dhoom opposite Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Uday Chopra and Rimi Sen. It was Deol's first action role and she was paired opposite Chopra. The film had a decent opening and became a hit at the box office, becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of the year.[25] Deol did not get much scope in the film, but her performance earned her a nomination for the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 6th IIFA Awards.Template:Citation needed
After the success of Dhoom, Deol starred in Krishna Vamsi's war film Insan opposite Akshay Kumar. It was Deol's first release of 2005. The film was a failure at the box office. Her next release was Main Aisa Hi Hoon opposite Ajay Devgn. The film was a remake of the Hollywood movie I Am Sam (2001). Deol played a supporting role and earned praise by Patcy N.[26] Subhash K. Jha of IANS also praised Deol, writing: "Esha Deol as the fey unstable nomadic and maladjusted Maya is a mix of Zeenat Aman in Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Anooradha Patel in Ijaazat. Playing this zonked-out character Esha Deol comes into her own as an actress. Her far-way looks of pain, anger, neglect and insecurity remain with you long after the film. Yup she too has matured along with Hindi cinema."[27]
In 2007, Deol's portrayal of a notorious and vengeful ghost for Ram Gopal Verma's Darling was reviewed positively.[28] Her next release was Cash again opposite Ajay Devgn.
In 2008, she performed her first item number in Ajay DevgnTemplate:'s film Sunday. She further appeared in Hijack and took a sabbatical break from films for two years.
Hiatus and return to acting (2011–present)
Deol's next film was Tell Me O Kkhuda (2011) directed and produced by her mother Hema Malini. She portrayed the lead role in the film opposite Arjan Bajwa, Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor and her father Dharmendra.Template:Citation needed
In February 2020, she announced her first book Amma Mia! on Instagram.[29] This book is a hands-on guide on parenting and children diet.[30]
Esha Deol released her short film Ek Duaa in which she acted and also produced alongside her husband. The film was released on voot, and it was met with mixed to positive reviews.
Esha will next be seen reuniting with Ajay Devgan in Rudra: The Edge of Darkness which will be a TV series released online. She will also be seen with Suniel Shetty in the series Invisible Woman.
Personal life
On 29 June 2012, Esha Deol married Bharat Takhtani in a low-key wedding ceremony at the ISKCON temple in Mumbai.[31][32]
In April 2017, it was announced that the couple was expecting their first child. She gave birth to her daughter in October 2017 at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai and named her Radhya.[33] On 10 June 2019, she gave birth to her second daughter, Miraya.[34]
Like their mother, Esha and her sister are trained in classical dance forms.[35] Esha is a professional Odissi dancer and was also trained in Bharatanatyam.[36]
Filmography
Films
| Template:Dagger | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe | Esha Singh | Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut |
| Na Tum Jaano Na Hum | Esha Malhotra | ||
| Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa | Esha | ||
| 2003 | Kucch To Hai | Tanya | |
| Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne | Tina Khanna | ||
| LOC: Kargil | Dimple | ||
| 2004 | Aayutha Ezhuthu | Geethanjali | Tamil film |
| Yuva | Radhika | ||
| Dhoom | Sheena | ||
| 2005 | Insan | Heena | |
| Kaal | Riya Thapar | ||
| Main Aisa Hi Hoon | Maya Trivedi | ||
| Dus | Neha (Fake) | ||
| No Entry | Pooja | ||
| Shaadi No. 1 | Diya Saxena | ||
| 2006 | Pyare Mohan | Preeti | |
| Ankahee | Kavya Krishna | ||
| 2007 | Just Married | Ritika Khanna | |
| Darling | Geeta Menon | ||
| Cash | Pooja | ||
| 2008 | Sunday | Herself | Special appearance in the song "Kashmakash" |
| Money Hai Toh Honey Hai | Herself | Special appearance in the song "Ta Na Na" | |
| One Two Three | Jiya | ||
| Hijack | Saira | ||
| 2011 | Tell Me O Kkhuda | Tanya R. Kapoor | |
| 2015 | Kill Them Young | Meera | Simultaneously shot in Kannada as Care of Footpath 2 |
| 2019 | Cakewalk[37] | Shilpa Sen | Short film |
| 2021 | Ek Duaa[38] | Abida | Short film |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Roadies X2 | Gang Leader | |
| 2022 | Rudra: The Edge of Darkness | Shaila "Shai" Durrani Singh | |
| 2023 | Hunter Tootega Nahi Todega | Divya |
Awards and nominations
Template:BLP unreferenced section
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Bollywood Movie Awards | Best Female Debut | Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe | Template:Won |
| Filmfare Awards | Best Female Debut | Template:Won | ||
| Star Screen Awards | Most Promising Newcomer - Female | Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe | Template:Won | |
| IIFA Awards | Star Debut of the Year - Female | Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe | Template:Won | |
| 2005 | Best Supporting Actress | Dhoom | Template:Nom | |
| 2006 | Star Screen Awards |
Best Actor In A Negative Role (Male/Female) |
Ankahee | Template:Nom |
See also
References
- ↑ Esha Deol Takhtani. Penguin India. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Filmfare Awards: Winners of 2002. The Times of India. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ↑ Esha Deol celebrates birthday with hubby and close friends(4 November 2015). Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ I want Esha to have a baby soon: Hema Malini(2 November 2015). Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ Esha Deol Reveals How Parents Hema Malini And Dharmendra Reacted To Her Second Pregnancy. NDTV.com(22 January 2019). Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ↑ I am a farmer's son: Dharmendra. The Hindu(27 June 2015). Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- ↑ My father is a die-hard Punjabi: Esha Deol. Hindustan Times(7 March 2015). Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ↑ Happy Birthday Hema Malini: As original dream girl turns 71, see her family pics with Dharmendra, Esha Deol. Hindustan Times(16 October 2019). Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ↑ Esha Deol's big fat wedding. The Telegraph (India)(24 June 2012). Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ↑ I am today's woman: Esha Deol. Rediff.com(19 May 2004). Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ↑ Of Esha & the Deol within. The Times of India(5 January 2002). Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ↑ My Dream Debut. Rediff(8 January 2002). Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ↑ Can Esha act?. Rediff(11 January 2002). Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ↑ Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche Review. Planet Bollywood. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ↑ Na Tum Jaano Na Hum Review. IndiaFm(9 May 2002). Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ↑ Hrithik, Esha need no reason to fall in love. Rediff(10 May 2002). Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ↑ Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa Review. IndiaFm(28 June 2002). Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ↑ Kucch To Hai Review. IndiaFm(24 January 2003). Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne Review. IndiaFm(24 March 2003). Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ Loc-Kargil Review. IndiaFm(25 December 2003). Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ Why we can never forget Kargil. Rediff(25 December 2003). Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ Top Earners: Box Office 2003. Box Office India. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ Movie Review: Aayitha Ezhuthu. Sify. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ 'I am today's woman -- very independent, very bindaas'. Rediff(19 May 2004). Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Top Earners: Box Office 2004. Box Office India. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ Main Aisa Hi Hoon: worth a miss!. Rediff(6 May 2005). Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ Main Aisa Hi Hoon Movie Review. Glamsham. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ Review of DARLING by Taran Adarsh. Naachgaana(6 September 2007). Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ Esha Deol announces her first book 'Amma Mia' based on parenting- a subject which is very close to her heart. The Times of India(10 February 2020). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ↑ Esha Deol Takhtani shares her baby care tips with 'Amma Mia'. The New Indian Express(24 March 2020). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ↑ Esha Deol to wed in temple on June 29. The Indian Express(11 June 2012). Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- ↑ Esha Deol to wed in a temple. The Times of India(11 June 2012). Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ↑ Hema Malini's daughter Esha Deol pregnant with her first child. The Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ↑ Esha Deol blessed with a baby girl!. The Times of India(11 June 2019). Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ↑ When Hema Malini stood up against Dharmendra after he asked Esha and Ahana to not learn dance. Hindustan Times(16 October 2021). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ↑ When Little Esha And Ahana Deol Danced With Mom Hema Malini. See Throwback Pic. NDTV(21 August 2018). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ↑ Esha Deol Takhtani is back to her 'toned self', talks about her comeback in films. DNA India(16 March 2021). Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine