Actress Esha Deol has expressed her pride in being known as the ‘Dhoom Girl,’ an identity that has stayed with her since the 2004 action thriller *Dhoom*.
In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Deol shared that she views this association as a privilege rather than a burden, even decades after the film’s release.
Deol, who played Sheena in the movie, noted that audiences still recognize her as ‘Dilbara’ and the ‘Dhoom Girl.’ “I own it with pride, that’s my identity with, you know, the masses, the audiences, they call me Dilbara and then they will say Dhoom Girl and that’s what the film has given me that. A lot of actors don’t get that prestige,” she stated. The film’s iconic songs, ‘Dhoom Machale’ and ‘Dilbara,’ significantly contributed to her glamorous screen presence and solidified her popular moniker.
Drawing a parallel, Esha highlighted how her mother, veteran actress Hema Malini, continues to be identified with her legendary character Basanti from the 1975 classic *Sholay*. “When it comes to my mother, she’s done so many movies but ‘Basanti aayi hai’… So I have been, I think, fortunate to get that title in my career and being called the Dilbara or Dhoom Girl, so I love it, no complaints,” Deol added. Hema Malini’s portrayal of the spirited tonga driver Basanti, who falls for Dharmendra’s Veeru, remains one of the most celebrated characters in Indian cinema, much like Esha’s ‘Dhoom Girl’ persona.