Unlike mom Hema Malini, Esha Deol is chilled-out. Much more ebullient and looking fresher than we last met for her film “Hijack” three years ago, the actor protests when in the course of our relaxed yet rapid-fire chat India-West refers to “Tell Me O Kkhuda” as her “re-launch.”

“That’s such a silly word!” she pouts. “In the West, actresses disappear, even have babies, and come back with a bang. I can chill out for a while and there is no rule that I have to keep working. Maybe I can set a trend!”

In her mother’s multi-storied house in a quiet Juhu lane, Esha and I share a sofa on the ground level office premises and chat like friends. The interview, held up due to lack of space in India-West’s Nov. 4 issue, was taken two days before the release of “TMOK” as she was away from Mumbai for the promotions of her film.

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: You, all the same, were not really happy with the roles you were getting, right?
A: Yes, I was around for eight years since my first and very disappointing release “Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche,” and the roles were getting monotonous. There were exceptions though, like Vikram Bhatt’s “Ankahee,” Mani Ratnam’s “Yuva,” Anubhav Sinha’s “Dus,” Anees Bazmee’s “No Entry” and Ram Gopal Varma’s “Darling.” In “Dhoom,” I really had no acting challenge but I had to look hot and I enjoyed doing the film.

Q: So how is “Tell Me O Kkhuda” different for you?
A: For the first time, I was doing a lot more than shooting and dubbing. I was involved from Day 1 of the scripting and pre-production that took seven or eight months. The role is so meaningful but I came to know how a story is developed and about things like editing. When I sat on the edit with Rameshwar Bhagat, who has also edited the “Dhoom” series, I realized how a film is actually made on the editing table. I also was present when the DI [digital intermediate, a motion picture finishing process] and background music were done. I think “TMOK” brought out a lot in me that I never thought I had. And for the first time I had an entire film to carry on my shoulders! “TMOK” has been very satisfying. Many times, your performance is liked by others but you are not happy. Here, whoever has watched the film has liked my work, but I have liked it too!

Q: Paving the way for a new director called Esha Deol?
A: (Smiles broadly) Well, direction needs so much experience! But yes, I would love to get into production and developing stories. I would not mind producing television serials and making movies with outside directors, but not necessarily acting in them.

Q: Was it traumatic when the film changed directors midway?
A: Yes, it was quite a shock. But mom’s taking over was a good thing. A director must be in tandem with the producer who is investing money. We needed to re-shoot and even rewrite some scenes. Anandvardhan came in and did a good job.

Q: Why did you have to release such a crucial film alongside “Ra.One”?
A: I don’t see any harm. Ours is a simple family film and Diwali is a festive season when people want to watch movies.

Q: The question you must have answered 100 times: how was it working with your parents?
A: Comforting! For any child, working with people who know you inside out is easy, though the sets saw us be professional. Here was a director who knew how I thought and functioned. But mom was very tough too. She made me do this sequence in Rajasthan where I had to run and then jump on a camel. The animal could have just got up by the sudden jolt and I was petrified! I pleaded with mom but she made me do the scene. When she wants something, she gets it!

Q: Was that the toughest sequence?
A: One of them! (Smiles) I had to be a part of this camel race that took about 10 days to shoot. I was confident because I am good at horse-riding, but camels are not horses!

Q: And your dad?
A: I could not sleep the night pervious to the shoot. It was an emotional scene within in the film and there was a natural outburst and we both wept. Later, he admitted that he too had not slept the previous night.

Q: How was it working with your other three “fathers”?
A: Vinod (Khanna)-ji looks so good even now! He is so suave and charming. After pack-up I would love to chat with him on spirituality and so many things. He’s quite a foodie. Farooque (Sheikh) Uncle and Deepti (Naval)-ji actually made me act better just by being in the same frame. And Rishi Kapoor Uncle would actually yell at me if I slipped! But they were all so chilled-out. Rishi Uncle is also so spontaneous, unlike my dad who prepares for what is to come and will even miss sleep to think about the sequence. But his energy and enthusiasm are so high even after 50 years in the field. And there is so much to learn from all of them.

Q: Arjan Bajwa and Chandan Roy Sanyal have been sporting enough to accept that the limelight will be on you.
A: Actually, it’s not as if they do not have good roles or have unimportant parts. We three set out together to find my real father and we are all there throughout the film together. During the shoot, we were traveling extensively and we really bonded. Arjan, of course, looks so hot that I have warned him about the post-release swarming of chicks around him! We are very close friends now.

Q: How did the Salman Khan promo song happen?
A: Salman is such a sweetheart. He met mom at a function and said that if she ever needed him for anything, he was there. When we decided on a promo song, he instantly agreed to do it. Besides “No Entry” where we were paired, we were together on the “Rockstars 2006” Tour.

Q: How do you look at brand Salman Khan today?
A: He is the biggest star of them all. That’s because he is such a nice person and has everyone’s dua. He’s so lovable!

Q: And how do you look at Hindi cinema today?
A: We have this Yo! generation of new directors, and I have liked some of their films, like “Dev.D,” “No One Killed Jessica” and “Delhi Belly.” The others — well, not really. I would rather watch the kind of movies that Indians love and I grew up on, like “Bodyguard” and “Singham.” We Indians need those kinds of movies.

Q: Have you signed any film now?
A: No, let this baby be delivered first and the labor pains get over. I would love to do an action film next.