'I'm very excited about my film: Hema Malini

Directing your husband and daughter could have its tricky moments and so it was for Hema Malini too. But it was enormously enjoyable and everything eventually fell into place, says the Bollywood diva and director whose forthcoming ’Tell Me Oh Khuda’ stars husband Dharmendra and daughter Esha Deol.

’Directing Dharamji was superb. In the beginning, however, he did not listen to me. He used to ask me ’What is this, what is that’. Then I used to tell him that I want it like this, so just do it. So he realised I knew the job and then left it entirely to me. He didn’t interfere at all after that,’ Hema, who has wielded the megaphone after 18 years for the movie, told IANS in an interview.

The crackling chemistry between the couple was in evidence in blockbusters like ’Seeta Aur Geeta’, ’Sholay’, ’Razia Sultan’ and ’Pratigya’.

Hema, 62, who earlier directed the Shah Rukh Khan-Divya Bharti-starrer ’Dil Aashna Hai’ in 1992, is making ’Tell Me Oh Khuda’ for her daughter Esha.

’I’m very excited about my film. It’s a very interesting story of a girl’s passionate quest to know her origins. The film might get delayed a little bit because of the whole process of change in directors. But I’m trying to release it latest by March,’ said the actress, looking graceful as ever in a green silk sari.

She has roped in Arjan Bajwa, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor for the film. It was earlier being directed by Mayur Puri but Hema decided to take the reins in her own hands.

The film is in the post-production stage and work is expected to get over by Jan 10.

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I am glad that I had the opportunity to play all kinds of roles:Hema Malini

In her long stint in Bollywood, Hema Malini has essayed a variety of roles but being mother to her two daughters is what she enjoys the most.

"I am glad that I had the opportunity to play all kinds of roles. But I enjoy the most being a mother to two lovely daughters," said Hema.

The actress along with her daughter Esha Deol and Ranjeet, yesteryears’ bad boy of Bollywood, was in Chandigarh yesterday to launch a jewellery collection.

On changes in the Bollywood over the years, the mother-daughter duo say it has come of age.

"The old formula of hero, heroine and villain is gone. There are new age directors who are able to project what they want to say," said Hema, who has also tried her hands at direction and is an acclaimed dancer.

"People are experimenting a lot these days," she adds.

"I loved the era of 80s and 90s," said Esha, who is looking forward to her home production Tell Me Oh Khuda slated to release in January next year. It will mark her comeback to films after a gap of almost three years.

The film is a family entertainer and will have Esha acting with her father Dharamendra for the first time.

Flaunting a dazzling polki pendant, Hema said a piece of jewellery is a woman’s most valued possession.

"I feel every woman should have atleast one piece of jewellery on her...there are jewellery designers who are coming up with new innovative ideas and the business of jewellery has emerged as a big market in India," said Hema, who is also taking interest in her television serial Matti Ki Bano, which is based on joint family system.

Esha along with Hema also walked the ramp here last night to promote the jewellery collection.

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