Here comes Esha Deol! Watch out, the actress says, in Kya Dil Ne Kahaa

Subhash K Jha

In her last release, Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Esha Deol plays a diehard romantic who believes there is someone somewhere for her.

In her debut film --- Vinay Shukla's Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche --- Dharmendra and Hema Malini's elder daughter played a widow adopted as a daughter by her mother-in-law. As though to further corroborate her growing confidence, Esha plays a diametrically different role in her next film Kya Dil Ne Kahaa which opens on June 28.

Incidentally, Esha is named Esha in all her three films. "But the roles were not written especially for me," she laughs. While her performance in Na Tum Jaano Na Hum was praised by audiences, some experts criticised her appearance. Esha shrugs, "Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I would not want everyone to like me because it is not natural. So far, the response from the audience is positive. And that is what counts."

Though Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche and Na Tum Jaano Na Hum have not been runaway successes, Esha is not worried about her third film. "I have improved since my first film. Director Arjun Sablok presented me so well in Na Tum Jaano Na Hum. It is every debutante's dream role, though it was not my first film."

Hema Malini takes interest in her daughter's career, though Esha maintains her mother is non-interfering. "She does advise me on what films to do. But the final decision is mine. In fact, I am more dependent on her than she wants me to be. I am constantly in touch with her on my mobile phone while shooting, seeking her advice even for the smallest matters."

Hema gives her daughter a lot of credit for essaying the tough, introverted role as an incorrigible romantic in Na Tum Jaano Na Hum. "Esha's performance was much better in her second film than her first. But I must say that even in her first film, Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche, the girl did the dramatic scenes very impressively. Maybe the role would have been liked ten years ago. Today, the audience wants a newcomer to be glamorous and energetic."

While giving director Vinay Shukla the thumbs-down for not presenting her daughter well in Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche, Hema is all praise for Esha's second director Arjun Sablok.

Though Esha does not mind being compared to her mother, she hates it when people forget she is also Dharmendra's child. "I am expected to look like my mom, but I also resemble my dad a lot," she says defiantly, admitting that dad Dharmendra has not seen either of her releases. "But he has been inquiring about Na Tum Jaano Na Hum and feels very proud when he sees me in the promos. He thinks I look like a kid!" she giggles.

Esha's sibling Ahana shows an inclination towards direction. "She is too young to make up her mind. I wanted to be an actress when I was still in my mother's womb! My sister is shy. So I guess she would prefer to be behind the camera," says Esha.

A trained Bharata Natyam dancer who has performed with her mother at concerts and dance ballets, Esha says her grounding in classical dancing helps her avoid awkwardness and vulgarity in her filmy dances. To opinion that she outdanced Hrithik Roshan in Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Esha says, "How can I? His style is completely different from mine."

The actress claims she plays a different role in her third film, Kya Dil Ne Kahaaa. Admitting she is as comfortable with her costar Tusshar Kapoor as she was with her earlier costars Aftab Shivdasani and Hrithik Roshan, the star daughter promises, "My character in Kya Dil Ne Kahaa is a lot like me --- jabbering, laughing, screaming, arguing and singing all the time. I am reserved only with strangers. I feel the improvement in me all the time. Through my constant exposure to new people and experiences, I feel I am growing all the time."