In a revealing account from Hema Malini's biography, actress Esha Deol has shared the poignant moment she discovered the complex family history of her legendary father, the late Dharmendra. The veteran actor, who passed away on November 24 due to age-related ailments, had been married to his first wife, Prakash Kaur, and was a father to four children - Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeta Deol, and Ajeita Deol - before marrying Hema Malini.
The Schoolyard Revelation
The truth about her father's previous marriage came as a complete shock to young Esha when she was merely in the fourth standard. Esha recalled being approached by a classmate who asked her directly, "You have two moms, right?" This unexpected question left the young girl stunned and defensive. She immediately snapped back at her classmate, firmly stating, "What rubbish! I have only one mother."
However, the troubling question continued to linger in her mind throughout the school day. Upon returning home, Esha confronted her mother, Hema Malini, about the strange inquiry from her friend. It was at this crucial moment that Hema decided it was time to reveal the truth to her young daughter about Dharmendra's existing family.
Growing Up With an Unconventional Family Structure
Esha described her childhood as being groomed in a way that made their unique family situation feel normal. She grew up without her father staying home at night, though Dharmendra would regularly have dinner with them before leaving the house. This arrangement felt completely natural to her until she began visiting friends' houses and noticed that their fathers typically stayed overnight.
Despite learning about her father's first marriage and family, Esha emphasized that she never felt disappointed or troubled by this revelation. "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," she stated in the biography titled 'Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl' by Ram Kamal Mukherjee.
Family Dynamics and Recent Events
The recent passing of Dharmendra has brought the family's complex dynamics into focus once again. A prayer meeting was organized by Dharmendra's first wife, Prakash Kaur, and sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol on Thursday, following the actor's demise. Notably, Hema Malini and their daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol, did not attend this gathering.
Instead, as revealed by Govinda's wife Sunita Ahuja, Hema Malini organized a separate memorial event at her own residence - a Gita paath and bhajan sandhya in Dharmendra's memory. This reflects the continued respect and separate spaces maintained by both families while honoring the beloved actor's legacy.
Esha's candid revelations provide a rare glimpse into the personal lives of one of Bollywood's most celebrated families, showing how children navigate complex family histories with grace and understanding, largely due to their parents' sensitive handling of delicate situations.
