Bollywood actress Esha Deol, the elder daughter of veteran actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini, has confirmed her separation from her husband Bharat Takhtani, a Mumbai-based businessman, after 11 years of marriage. The couple issued a joint statement to Delhi Times, saying that they have mutually and amicably decided to part ways1.

The statement read, “We have mutually and amicably decided to part ways. Through this shift in our lives, the best interests and welfare of our two children is and will be of utmost importance to us. We’d appreciate our privacy is respected.” The couple has two daughters, Radhya and Miraya, who are four and two years old respectively.

According to sources close to the Deol family, the divorce was not a sudden decision but had been brewing for a while. The couple had reportedly faced some issues in their relationship after the birth of their second daughter, as Esha could not give enough time to her husband. They had also been living separately for some time, with Esha staying at her mother’s house.

While Hema Malini has respected her daughter’s decision and supported her throughout, Dharmendra is said to be upset about the divorce and wants the couple to rethink their decision for the sake of their children. A source told ETimes, "No parents can be happy seeing their children’s family being broken. He is not against his daughter’s decision, he just wants her to think again. Also, they love their son-in-law. The actress is sad about the news. They are parents to two children. Divorce affects children the most. If it is possible to save the marriage by thinking about the child, let them think about it."

Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtani had a lavish wedding in 2012, after dating for several years. They had met during their school days and fell in love. Esha Deol, who made her Bollywood debut in 2002 with Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe, has acted in films like Dhoom, Yuva, No Entry, and Just Married. She was last seen in the short film Cakewalk in 2019. Bharat Takhtani is the director of Zar Jewels Private Limited and R.G. Bangles Pvt. Ltd. and has a net worth of $20 million.