Her newborn grandchild is a ‘little doll’, says Hema

Actor Hema Malini is one excited grandmom. Her daughter, Esha Deol, gave birth to a baby girl on October 20 in Mumbai. In a chat with us, Hema says, “It’s such a beautiful feeling to become a grandmom again! I am very excited right now. Even Dharmendraji (her actor husband) is very happy. Esha is doing well, and the baby girl, whom Esha and her husband Bharat Takhtani have decided to name Radhya, is so sweet and lovely-looking, like a little doll!”

The name Radhya comes from Radha, which has got people in Mathura, Hema’s constituency as an MP, excited. “My Mathura people are very happy. Krishna ki nagri hai, toh Radha Rani is important there,” she says.

While Hema and Dharmendra were conspicuous by their absence in the photos that emerged online after Esha and Bharat stepped out of the hospital with Radhya, Hema that says too much was made of nothing. She adds, “We didn’t go to the hospital because Bharat’s family went and brought her home. We were at home, making the preparations to welcome the baby. The first thing we did was aarti, according to the Hindu tradition. Outside, my staff was celebrating with phuljhadis. But we didn’t burst more crackers, as we did not want to disturb the child with the noise and also because it would have led to so much pollution.”

“I was equally excited when Darien (son of Ahana Deol, Hema’s younger daughter) was born. But he has grown up so fast, and now goes to playschool. I’m scared to hold these babies, though I did it in my time,” says Hema.

“However, I’m happy seeing the way Esha and Bharat are handling things. They are so excited, almost as if they have a little new toy to play with!” she laughs.

PHOTO: VIRAL BHAYANI Hema Malini (right) and the baby girl with her parents Esha and Bharat