Esha Deol on Why She Didn't Ask Dharmendra About Bold Bikini Scene in Dhoom: 'Getting Permission...'

Dhoom, one of YRF’s biggest blockbusters, celebrated its 20th anniversary on Tuesday. The 2004 film, starring John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Esha Deol, and Rimi Sen, marked a significant milestone in Bollywood with its high-octane action sequences and memorable characters. Esha Deol, who played the role of Sheena, became an overnight sensation with her bold bikini scene, which made waves at the time.

In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Esha shared that she never auditioned for the film and instead underwent a look test. She was given six months to transform her body to fit the role. Reflecting on the experience, Esha revealed, “It was more of a look test, but I was given time to get into that kind of a mold. I worked out a lot.”

Esha also addressed the much-discussed bikini scene that became a defining moment in her career. When asked if she had to seek permission from her parents, Esha clarified that while she sought her mother Hema Malini’s approval, she did not need to ask her father, veteran actor Dharmendra. “Getting permission from my mom was as good as getting permission from my father,” she said.

In an earlier interview with Bollywood Bubble, Esha had recounted how nervous she was about asking her mother for permission. “I was very scared,” she admitted. However, Hema Malini’s reaction surprised her, as she encouraged her to go ahead with the scene, saying, “You wear it when you go out with your friends and on holidays, so wear it. Make sure it is shot nicely.”

Despite her success in Dhoom, Esha never returned to the franchise in subsequent films. When asked how she felt about not being approached for future installments, Esha noted, “I guess they never repeated the negative characters. Even John (Abraham) didn’t get repeated.”

With rumours of Dhoom 4 swirling for years, Esha expressed her eagerness to return to the franchise, should the opportunity arise. Meanwhile, Esha was last seen in the web series Hunter Tootega Nahi Todega alongside Suniel Shetty.