Actress Esha Deol has publicly backed South Indian accents in Hindi cinema, saying linguistic nuances add to an artist's individuality rather than diminishing their performance. Her remarks come amid a renewed debate over the online trolling of South Indian actors — most recently Rashmika Mandanna — for their Hindi diction.

What Esha Said

The actress, daughter of veteran performers Hema Malini and Dharmendra, acknowledged that her own dialogue delivery echoes her mother's South Indian inflection, particularly in Hindi. Far from treating this as a drawback, she framed it as an intrinsic part of her identity on screen.

'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. So I think it sounds really sweet and cute. I enjoy hearing people with a little accent,' Esha said.

Legendary Precedents She Invoked

Esha cited three performers whose accents became inseparable from their screen personas: the late Sridevi, whom she affectionately called 'Sri aunty'; her mother Hema Malini; and actress Urmila Matondkar, of whom she described herself as a 'huge fan'.

'Like Sri aunty used to have her little accent, my mother, and even Urmila. I am a huge fan of Urmila, and I loved her little accent that would come. But that's what makes them stand out. That's the uniqueness, I think, every actor,' she said.

Notably, Hema Malini's characteristic delivery — including her distinctive way of pronouncing 'nahi' — is widely recalled as a defining element of her screen persona. Sridevi, similarly, was recognised for a Hindi diction shaped by her South Indian linguistic background; despite early challenges with the language, she became one of Indian cinema's most celebrated stars.

The Rashmika Mandanna Controversy

Esha's comments arrive in the wake of Rashmika Mandanna's public account of facing online criticism over her Hindi accent. Mandanna, who rose to prominence in Kannada and Telugu cinema before establishing herself in Bollywood, has spoken about embracing her South Indian identity rather than feeling apologetic about how she speaks. Lyricist Javed Akhtar and actress Madhoo have also voiced support for her.

Esha's Return to Hindi Cinema

The remarks also carry a personal dimension: Esha is set to return to the screen with the action-crime drama Pratap, marking her comeback to Hindi film projects after a prolonged absence. Her intervention in this debate — as the daughter of one of the very stars she invokes — lends the argument a generational resonance that pure celebrity commentary rarely achieves.

As India's film industries continue to converge through pan-India releases and cross-regional casting, the conversation around linguistic diversity in performance looks set to grow rather than subside.