Mumbai, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Actress Esha Deol has defended actors who are trolled for their South Indian accents while speaking Hindi, saying distinctive speech patterns add to an artist’s individuality rather than detract from their performances.
In an interview with IANS, the Dhoom actress said she herself inherited aspects of her mother Hema Malini’s way of speaking, particularly when delivering Hindi dialogues. She believes such nuances are part of an actor’s identity and should be embraced.
“I sound a lot like my mother when I am saying my dialogue, especially in Hindi. But that’s me, and the person who’s taken me on board to play a particular character knows that,” Esha said, adding that she enjoys listening to people who speak with an accent.
She cited Hema Malini, late actress Sridevi and Urmila Matondkar as performers whose distinctive diction contributed to their screen identities.
Recalling Sridevi, whom she affectionately called “Shri aunty”, Esha said she admired the actress’s way of speaking. She also described herself as a huge fan of Urmila Matondkar and said she enjoyed the latter’s accent.
For Esha, these examples demonstrate how linguistic differences can make actors stand out rather than limit their appeal. Hema Malini and Sridevi, both of whom came from South Indian linguistic backgrounds, went on to become celebrated figures in Hindi cinema despite having distinctive Hindi diction.
Her remarks come amid renewed debate over online trolling of South Indian actors for their Hindi accents. Actress Rashmika Mandanna has spoken about facing criticism over her Hindi diction, while lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar and actress Madhoo have voiced support for her.
Esha is preparing to return to the screen with the action-crime drama Pratap, marking her comeback to Hindi film projects after a prolonged gap.
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