‘Unko pasand nahi tha filmo mein aana’: When Hema Malini revealed Dharmendra once opposed Esha Deol’s Bollywood journey

Hema Malini and her daughter Esha Deol charmed audiences with their wit, warmth, and easy-going chemistry on one of the episodes of 'The Kapil Sharma Show'. Though the episode was full of laughter and nostalgia, the one part that was most memorable was when Hema Malini revealed that her husband,

Dharmendra

, had been completely against Esha's entry into Bollywood.

This surprise confession added an emotional depth to the show, which was light-hearted overall, and took fans by surprise.

Dharmendra’s early resistance to Esha’s film career

According to Hema Ji, her husband did not approve of Esha's aspirations of being a professional dancer or breaking into Bollywood due to his disapproval of the dance industry. While Dharmendra was considered one of the greatest actors in Hindi cinema, he was always wary about Esha's desire to pursue a career as a professional dancer and enter Bollywood.

Esha started getting interested in dancing and wanting to be an actress as part of her routine with her mother's encouragement.

Esha spoke about how she always wanted to participate in extracurricular activities and how she started getting interested in dance through dance classes held at their home, "Dharamji was never supportive of Esha's ambitions to be a dancer or actress or pursue a career in Bollywood."

A father’s mind slowly changes

According to the veteran actress, Dharmendra’s concerns were rooted in his desire to shield his daughter from the scrutiny and uncertainty of showbiz, a world he and Hema had experienced firsthand.

But over time, admiration replaced resistance. Hema shared, “When he saw the grace in my dance and how people appreciated it, he started feeling differently. Slowly, his mind changed, and he agreed to let our daughters get trained in dance and even pursue acting if they wished.

” What began as opposition eventually turned into quiet support.

Esha Deol’s journey beyond films

Esha acted in several films that made a mark on her career, including 'Dhoom,' 'Na Tum Jaano Na Hum,' and 'Yuva,' and ultimately helped create her own identity within Bollywood. While her focus has since changed from acting and film-making to writing and raising her family, she spoke about her experiences as a parent during the same television appearance in which she promoted her book, 'Amma Mia'; she described this book as a labour of love, providing a practical guide based on her actual experience of motherhood.