Exclusive - Esha Deol: I have toughened up over the years

Two years after starring in Ram Kamal Mukherjee's short film Cakewalk, Esha Deol is back on screen, but this time, not just as an actor. Yes, with her latest film Ek Duaa, the actor is also making her debut as a producer. The film is helmed by Ram and is a part of the Voot Film Festival. Ahead of the release, OTTplay exclusively caught up with Esha wherein she spoke at length about the film's hard-hitting subject, her two-decade-long journey as an actor and working with Ajay Devgn in her OTT debut with Rudra - The Edge of Darkness. 

Excerpts:

What made you choose Ek Duaa as a film to turn a producer?

Honestly, I do things from my heart. Like, the way I wrote my book, it was something that came to me, and I felt that I want to share my experiences. Similarly, this film was offered to me as an actor and I heard the narration, it really stirred up my emotion in a very deep-rooted way. I felt that for a film like this, I don't want to just be associated as an actor. Because of the subject and the topic, if I'm able to contribute in a small way then I would want to be presenting this film as well. I want to be associated by not just acting in a film like this, but also, I want to contribute to this cause in a small way by making this film, and that's how Bharat Esha Films was born. 

Being a mother yourself what was the reaction to the script while reading the climax sequence in Ek Duaa?

I'm not someone who can easily cry. I heard the narration and I just burst out crying. Then I was like this is too small to just be an actor in it. I wanted to make this film myself, more than anything else, it's my way of contributing to this. Creating that awareness if I can do it in a small way by doing a film and making it then why not? 

How was the whole shoot experience?

It was just before the lockdown luckily and a few portions we had to complete later. By then COVID-19 was very much part of our lives. For me, it was a very different experience because this is also my home production. I'm also going on set not just as an actor, but as a responsible producer who has to see to that everyone is taken care of. From our actors to our spot boys, I wanted everyone to be happy and make this film. Everyone should make this movie with a lot of love that was what my feeling was every time I went on the set. 

You have been doing full-length feature films for many years and from the past couple of years, you feature in two short films. Apart from the runtime what difference do you find in these?

The amount of time that goes into shooting, the cost of production and I'm someone who likes something that's moving fast. For a viewer, who in today's time is so busy with other stuff to watch and get the message in a shorter period of time, I think is a lovely way of showing cinema. This film couldn't be longer than this. Now that you've seen the film, we didn't want to drag it further. It's not even short and I would say it's not even long, it's somewhere in between. But we didn't have a choice, the length of it was like this with the script itself. We didn't want to change anything or add anything to it. 

How has your association been with Ram Kamal Mukherjee who also directed you in Cakewalk?

It was lovely, very comforting working with him. He understands me so well as an actor. He lets me be natural because he knows that I have understood this character very deeply. I felt every pulse of this Abeeda who would have felt at that time. So, he lets you be an actor and I'm very spontaneous in front of the camera. I think that translates very well into performance than being too mechanical. I think he's extremely talented.

As a producer what content do you wish to back? Will it be OTT series too?

To create something which will have a positive impact on the audience. I would want, especially in today's time to make something which once they finished watching it, they get the strong message which is exactly what I think Ek Duaa has done right. 

Your mom Hema Malini is also a successful actor and filmmaker, apart from being a mother and a wife. What did you learn from her as you are also balancing work and being a proud mother of two daughters?

Yes, I am a proud mom of two lovely daughters. Of course, with my mom, there's so much to learn every day, not just the way she handles herself, the way she maintains a sense of discipline and commitment towards work and balancing out being, you know, mother and a wife as well. So, I think we as women are great multitaskers. We all have that talent in us to multitask especially when you have a strong support system, which most of us in India do. We are blessed that our kids have grandparents, aunts, uncles and everyone. It's lovely because that gives you more of a comforting feeling and yes, I can step out, work and come back. It was like that with me as I spent so much time with my grandma back then when my mom would go every day to shoot and come back home. So back then the household was driven by these strong South Indian women with a very strong mindset and that's how I've been brought up. 

From movies, short films to getting into the OTT space, how excited are you about your career when you are nearly completing 20 years as an actor?

Back then I was this 18-year-old teenager who stepped into the industry and was completely raw and very naive. I think over the years today, I have toughened up. I think you learn a lot; you just have to sometimes look ahead and see where the current situation of the line you're working in is and abide by what is favourable to you. 

You are going to star in a series Rudra with Ajay Devgn. Have you started shooting? How will you describe this outing in a few words?

I'm so looking forward because again it's with Ajay with whom I've worked in many films. The entire way of working today, the time has changed so much, whether it's technically or even workshops and readings and all that. It's lovely with the amount of time and energy the filmmaker contributes towards the actor. Earlier, we used to go on set and get the scene, wear a costume, just go, act and get out. But now it's very different and I'm really enjoying it too. 

Do you think OTT has given a second chance to the career of many actors?

For actors, it's giving a bigger dimension to come and go with the choice of roles and everything. Especially for someone like me today who also have kids and families, the kind of work that is there today is much more exciting to want to give that time and energy to your work. The variety of content that the OTT has brought is great which gives me individually the feeling that yes, this is exciting work coming my way today and I want to go into it. 

What kind of content do you like to watch on OTT?

When I like to watch something to just unwind, I love watching a lot of comedy. That's something that I deliberately do because I think in our day-to-day lives and otherwise, also at work, there is so much stress that one would go through. So, my way of unwinding is watching comedy, but otherwise, I enjoy the thrillers that are being made today - the crime dramas. I really enjoyed Kajol's film Tribhanga, I enjoy watching all these good actresses doing some great work. It's so nice to see that.