Esha Deol: My film debut was actually in 1983

After a haitus of three years, Esha Deol returns to the silver screen with Tell Me O Khuda. Directed by mum Hema Malini, the film is about a girl in search of her biological father.

In converstaion with Sonil Dedhia, the actress talks about her new project, future plans and her favourite films starring parents Dharmendra-Hema Malini.

Refer to the film as her comeback vehicle and Esha is quick to deny it's one, but agrees that her mother Hema Malini made the film to help her salvage her career. "I have been working for 10 years now. It's not that I have not been busy for the last three years. I have been a part of this film since the scripting stage and have learnt a lot more than acting."

"It's possible that my mother made this film for me. At the end of the day, she is my mother and we have our production house," says Esha, who has acted in 30-odd films.

"In Hollywood, actresses take a long sabbatical and get back to work and no one says anything. It is here in India that people make so much noise about it," she says.

Ask her about being directed by her mother and she says, "My mother may appear strict but she is quite helpful and encouraging." 

Her fondest memories are of shooting with her father, Dharmendra. "He might be a He-Man to the world, but for me he is a wonderful, warm person. When it came to shooting the film, he took care of the smallest details and took extra care of me," she says with pride.

As for future plans, Esha seem to be following in her mother's footsteps when she says, "I am looking forward to venturing into television production. It's a good business where a lot of people make a lot of money. When everyone is doing it, I think I can also do it. There is no harm in trying," she smiles.

Esha is also keen on writing a film script but has reservations about directing. "You need a lot of experience to direct a film. I don't think I am ready to take up the responsibility. But I have a couple of stories in my mind so I might end up writing a script."

Tell Me O Khuda releases alongside Shah Rukh Khan's eagerly awaited Ra.One, the biggest film of the year.

Ra.One is releasing with 3,000 prints, which surely poses a big challenge to Hema Malini's film, but Esha is sure her film will hold its own. "We are releasing around 700 prints. I have someone very responsible -- and everyone is very scared of him --taking care of the release of the film and booking the theatres. He is my brother."

Is Esha talking about Sunny Deol?

When asked which of her famous parents' films she likes, Esha says,"I liked them in Tum Haseen Main Jawan because that was their first film together and I think that was the time they both landed up having a crush on each other.

"I loved them in Sholay, their chemistry was just amazing. I watched Seeta Aur Geeta everyday when I was growing up. I just love Geeta's character in the film. There is a film called Dillagi where my parents were playing school teachers, it was a very cute love story.

"Finally I love Razia Sultan, as that was my debut film. I made my debut in 1983 with this film. There is a scene where my mother is seen carrying me in her arms while she rides a horse."