New Delhi, June 26, 2026: Bollywood actress Esha Deol has candidly opened up about her personal life, sharing her emotional journey after her highly publicized separation from businessman Bharat Takhtani. In a heartfelt new interview, the Dhoom actress confessed that she deeply misses love and romance in her daily life, while reflecting on how the legendary relationship of her parents, Dharmendra and Hema Malini, set an incredibly high bar for modern companionship—one that she feels is rarely matched in today’s world.
The actress made these revelations during a candid appearance on a popular celebrity podcast. Speaking openly about her emotional headspace two years after her marriage ended, Esha provided a rare, vulnerable glimpse into what it is like navigating life as a single mother while maintaining a deep-seated belief in old-school romance.
Navigating Life and Loneliness After Separation
Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtani surprised fans in early 2024 when they announced their decision to part ways after eleven years of marriage. Married in a grand ceremony in 2012, the former couple shares two daughters, Radhya and Miraya. While the separation was mutual and amicable, Esha admitted that adapting to the new reality of her personal life has left a visible void where romance used to be.
“I think love and romance are the most important things in a person’s life, which I am currently missing,” Esha confessed during the interview. Describing herself as a hopeless romantic at heart, she added, “I love to be romantic. I am a complete rom-com person. I love love songs and I love love stories. That side of me is something I definitely feel is missing right now.”
Despite the loneliness that often accompanies a major life transition, Esha clarified that the end of her marriage has not made her cynical about relationships. She noted that she has experienced heartbreak before and views it simply as an inevitable aspect of growth. “Breakups happen. I have had boyfriends in the past whom I broke up with. These things happen, but that doesn’t dilute my ultimate idea of love,” she explained, signaling that she remains entirely open to finding love again in the future.
The Dharmendra-Hema Malini Standard: A Love That Doesn’t Exist Today
When asked where her unwavering faith in unconditional love originates, Esha immediately pointed to her iconic parents, veteran actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini. The legendary cinematic couple, who captured the nation’s imagination both on and off-screen in the 1970s and 80s, built a lifelong bond that Esha views as the ultimate gold standard.
However, Esha expressed a bittersweet sentiment regarding modern relationships, noting that the depth, dignity, and endurance displayed by her parents are hard to find in the contemporary world.
For Esha, watching her parents navigate decades of life together provided a blueprint for what a partnership should look like. In an era dominated by fleeting digital connections and fast-paced lifestyles, she believes the patience and soulful connection shared by the golden-era couple have become a rarity. This standard has heavily influenced her own expectations of what a true life partner should be.
Prioritizing Privacy and Co-Parenting
The past couple of years have been exceptionally challenging for the Deol family. Beyond the emotional toll of her divorce, Esha also endured the profound grief of losing her father, the legendary “He-Man” of Bollywood, Dharmendra, who passed away in 2025. Throughout these turbulent times, maintaining stability for her young daughters has remained Esha’s absolute priority.
She revealed that handling a separation under the intense glare of the public eye requires immense caution. While she initially wished to keep the split entirely private, she recognized that her status as a public figure made an official announcement necessary to avoid rampant media speculation.
“A separation is deeply personal and sensitive, especially when children are involved,” Esha shared. “I never wanted my personal life to become headline news. But being public figures, Bharat and I knew we had to handle the situation with care, dignity, and sensitivity. Our daughters’ best interests and welfare will always be of utmost importance to us.”
Despite their split, Esha and Bharat have managed to sustain a remarkably cordial relationship. The two are frequently seen coordinating family outings and lunches to ensure their daughters grow up with a balanced sense of security. Showing strength of character, Bharat even stood firmly by Esha’s side to offer comfort during the difficult period following her father’s demise last year.
A New Chapter of Self-Discovery
As Esha Deol steps into this next chapter of her life, she is focusing her energy on self-discovery, motherhood, and her professional aspirations. She emphasized that making major life choices, even the painful ones, has ultimately made her a more resilient individual.
“When it comes to taking big decisions, I prefer to take them myself because tomorrow, whether they turn out right or wrong, I won’t blame anyone else,” Esha reflected philosophically. “Mistakes happen. They make you stronger, and you learn from them. Every relationship has its own unique story and timeline.”
With her optimistic outlook on love intact, her dedication to co-parenting, and her renewed focus on her creative career, Esha Deol is demonstrating that a personal ending can also serve as a powerful, dignified beginning. Fans across the digital space continue to rally behind the actress, praising her maturity, honesty, and graceful approach to life’s unpredictable turns.