Actress Esha Deol has finally addressed the “snobbish” image that followed her during the early years of her Bollywood career. The daughter of veteran actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini revealed that several magazines frequently described her as snobbish when she first entered the film industry. However, instead of being upset by the label, Esha said that the perception sometimes worked in her favour.
In a recent conversation with SCREEN alongside her upcoming film Pratap co-star Amit Sadh, Esha spoke about her personality, the assumptions people made about her and how she has dealt with public perception over the years.
The actress explained that people who knew her personally understood what she was actually like. She also admitted that being perceived as someone who was difficult to approach meant fewer strangers would casually come up to her.
Esha Deol Says Being Called Snobbish Worked in Her Favour
During the conversation, Esha was asked whether her straightforward and feisty personality had ever been mistaken for an attitude problem.
Recalling her early days in the industry, she said that magazines frequently described her as “snobbish”.
Esha said, “I read a lot about it initially. There were all the magazines and all where a lot of them would say, ‘Oh, she’s very snobbish.’”
She added that the word was something she encountered quite often. However, she never felt the need to constantly explain herself to people who had already formed an opinion.
“People who knew me, knew me. And, if I look like one, in a way it’s good. So, not too many people come and approach you and talk to you. It worked in my favour,” she said.
Her statement reflects how she gradually became comfortable with the image that magazines had created around her. Rather than allowing public perception to define her personality, she chose to remain herself.
Amit Sadh Praises Esha Deol’s Honesty and Confidence
During the same interview, Amit Sadh spoke warmly about his co-star and praised her straightforward approach.
The actor described Esha’s personality as a combination of confidence, honesty and humility. He explained that her feisty nature was not necessarily negative and that he appreciated the way she expressed herself.
Amit said, “There’s a thing called feistiness which can be angry, negative. She has a very feisty adorable honesty about her.”
He also recalled his experience of working with her, saying that he noticed her attentiveness and humility on set. According to him, Esha remained deeply connected to her character while shooting.
Amit further praised her interview style, pointing out that she did not appear to be overly concerned about giving politically correct answers.
He said that he admired people who displayed strength and appreciated Esha’s ability to express herself honestly and gracefully.
Responding to his compliments, Esha simply said, “This is who I am.”
Amit added that people who felt intimidated by her straightforwardness should perhaps examine their own reactions.
Esha Deol’s Early Career and Star-Kid Image
Esha Deol entered Bollywood in the early 2000s, carrying the legacy of two celebrated actors. Being the daughter of Dharmendra and Hema Malini meant that public attention followed her even before she established herself as an actress.
She made her acting debut with Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe in 2002. The film also featured Aftab Shivdasani and Sanjay Kapoor. Esha received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance.
She subsequently appeared in films such as Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa, Dhoom and Dus.
Her performance in Dhoom brought her considerable mainstream attention, while films like Yuva and No Entry further expanded her filmography.
However, being associated with a famous film family also meant that her personality and public appearances were frequently discussed in entertainment magazines.
Her latest comments offer a retrospective look at how she experienced that attention and why she did not feel compelled to change herself to satisfy public expectations.
What Is Esha Deol’s Upcoming Film Pratap About?
Esha Deol will next appear in the upcoming film Pratap, which also stars Amit Sadh in the lead role.
In the film, Amit plays Pratap Ranade, an encounter specialist whose life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself behind bars. Esha portrays his wife, Poonam Ranade, whose journey revolves around resilience and self-discovery.
The film also features Seema Biswas, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Milind Gunaji in important roles.
Written and directed by Sachin Saraf, Pratap is produced by Pradeep Rangwani under the banner of UV Films. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on November 20, 2026.
The project marks another screen appearance for Esha as she continues to explore different roles after returning to acting.
Esha Deol Continues to Embrace Her Personality
Esha’s latest interview highlights her willingness to speak openly about the assumptions that followed her throughout her career. While the “snobbish” label became a recurring description in magazines, the actress says that those who genuinely knew her understood her personality.
Amit Sadh’s appreciation of her honesty also added an interesting dimension to the conversation, showing the mutual respect between the two actors ahead of their film’s release.
Rather than trying to change how everyone perceives her, Esha appears comfortable with being herself. Her remarks suggest that she has made peace with the labels attached to her during her early career and no longer feels the need to explain her personality to everyone.