Esha Deol daughter of Bollywood legends Hema Malini and Dharmendra once lived a love story that could easily have been a Bollywood script itself. She met Bharat Takhtani a businessman when she was just 13. Their connection began as a simple school-time friendship that slowly turned into something more a sweet teenage crush that later blossomed into love. While they studied in different schools their paths often crossed during inter-school competitions. Esha once shared in an interview that Bharat had tried to hold her hand when they were teenagers which left her furious at the time. “He tried to hold my hand once and I snapped at him. I didn’t speak to him for days” she had recalled fondly. “She was my first love” said Bharat Takhtani Years later Bharat admitted in an interview that Esha was his first love. He shared “Esha was my first crush my first love. She gave me her number on a tissue paper and that’s how our story began.” But as school ended so did their interactions. Life took them in different directions — until destiny decided to bring them back together a decade later. The two reunited almost ten years later at Niagara Falls in Canada an encounter that reignited the spark between them. Bharat humorously revealed that this time before holding Esha’s hand again he asked for permission and she didn’t mind at all. Marriage second wedding and silence before the storm In 2012 the couple tied the knot in a grand ceremony attended by Bollywood’s biggest names. Esha had even paused her acting career to focus on family life. Their love seemed unshakable so much so that on their fifth anniversary Esha revealed they had remarried in a traditional Sindhi ritual to strengthen their bond. “It’s a custom in our community. I married him again to make our relationship stronger” she had said. But fate had a different plan. In 2024 after 12 years of marriage the couple quietly parted ways. Reports suggested that despite efforts from both sides including Esha’s attempts to balance family and career differences grew over time. What went wrong? Sources close to the couple mentioned that compatibility issues had been brewing for some time. Esha who shares two daughters with Bharat reportedly tried to save the relationship but couldn’t bridge the emotional gap. The separation was mutual and dignified with both choosing to maintain silence in public. As Esha turns 44 her journey from being Bollywood’s star kid to a woman who experienced love heartbreak and resilience reminds many that not every fairytale ends the way it begins. Highlights: Esha Deol met Bharat Takhtani when she was 13 and their friendship turned into love. The couple married in 2012 and renewed vows on their 5th anniversary. After 12 years of marriage Esha and Bharat parted ways in 2024.