As veteran actor Dharmendra, 89, continues to remain under care but stable at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, conversations around his life and relationships have resurfaced. Among these is a deeply personal memory shared by his daughter Esha Deol, who once spoke about the moment she first learned her father had a family before marrying her mother, Hema Malini.
The revelation did not come from home but from an unexpected question asked by a schoolmate.
Esha Deol Learned the Truth in Class 4
Esha Deol discovered her father’s earlier marriage while she was in Class 4. The incident is documented in Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s biography, Hema Malini: Beyond The Dream Girl.
One day at school, a classmate casually asked Esha, “You have two moms, right?”
Esha immediately dismissed it, responding, “What rubbish! I have only one mother.” But the question unsettled her. When she returned home and narrated the conversation, Hema Malini decided it was time to explain the truth.
Hema told her daughter that Dharmendra had been married before, to Prakash Kaur, and that he had four children — Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeta, and Ajeita — long before marrying her.
Esha later reflected, “That was when I understood that my mother had married someone who was already married to another lady and that they also had a family. But frankly speaking, I never felt bad about it. Till today, I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. And I give full credit to my parents for not making us ever feel uncomfortable.”
“Children Today Are Much More Aware”
Esha has often said that children today grow up exposed to far more information than earlier generations.
“Nowadays kids are much smarter. Imagine, we were in the fourth standard and had no idea about anything,” she said.
Despite how surprising the discovery may sound, the actor insists there was no emotional shock involved.
A Childhood Shaped by Acceptance
Esha explained that her parents handled the situation with dignity and quiet understanding. Hema Malini raised Esha and Ahana largely on her own, while Dharmendra was present whenever needed, even though he did not live with them full-time.
To young Esha, this arrangement felt normal because it was the only reality she knew.
“When I visited friends and saw both parents around, I realized that many families lived like that. But I never felt a lack. I was very content with my mother, and I loved my father,” she shared.
“No Bitterness, No Confusion”
The reason Esha grew up without emotional conflict, she believes, is because her parents never allowed bitterness to seep into their home.
Their world was shaped by stability and affection rather than controversies.
Looking back, Esha feels grateful that the revelation did not disrupt her childhood:
“My parents ensured that we were never made to feel uncomfortable. There was no confusion and no negativity.”
As Dharmendra Recovers, Fans Reflect on His Family Bonds
With Dharmendra currently recovering under medical supervision, stories like these have resurfaced as reminders of the complex yet resilient family dynamics that shaped the Deol household.
Esha’s candid reflections continue to offer an honest glimpse into a chapter of Bollywood history marked by unconventional relationships, quiet understanding, and emotional maturity.
