‘I BELIEVE IN KARMA’
Esha Gupta says she wasn’t interested in becoming an actor but destiny willed otherwise and she’s now enjoying it
Esha Gupta is the new entrant in Badnam Aashram 3 directed by Prakash Jha. She will play Sonia. Bobby Deol once again entertains as Baba Nirala in the series. The trailer got a lot of love from fans.
DC interviews the glamorous actress about the series on a variety of topics, including her career and body-shaming.
Excerpts
Q How is your character in Badnam Ashram developing?
The plot revolves around what my character does and how she does it. It all comes down to whether she is being played or playing, and whether she is receiving or giving information.
Q
How was it working with director Parakash Jha?
It’s been nice working with Prakash Sir. I worked with him nine years ago. Many see him as a serious person. When you have to deal with a huge set of actors and technicians you have to be like that. He is always working towards making the scene and the actor involved important.
Q
It’s more than luck. I believe in my karma and destiny. I believe it’s my Karma that I am here working in this glitzy world. When the Miss India pageant happened, I was a student. I went back to my studies after the event, as my parents wanted me to complete my studies, though my mother had wanted me to participate in the Miss India contest. Other girls saw it as a stepping stone to the film industry, but I only took part because my mother wanted me to. I was a topper in my school. I was more inclined towards studies. But now I don’t see myself doing anything other than being an actor. What is destined will happen when it is destined to. When I got the offer for Ashram I was like kuch bhi ho jaye, I have to be there.
It has taken some time to reach where I am. Like everyone, I have gone through a lot. I have broken down so many times. I have gone through therapy. I’m from a non-film background. When you are from a film background you know the ups and down of the profession. If someone calls you fat or a bad actor or when your film flops, and people tell you you’ll never get work, it doesn’t mean they’re right.
Q Is it important to look good at all times?
Being in this industry makes you self-conscious. I was always into sports and studies; nothing else mattered. But when you become an actor, everything is about your looks.
Do you feel you’ve been lucky in your journey so far, from being runnerup in the Femina Miss India pageant to making your presence felt in Bollywood, even during the lockdown?
Q
When you are body shamed and your career is looked at negatively, how do you feel?
It hurts but as I’ve gotten older, it doesn’t make much of a difference. It feels good to be mentally and physically happy and content. I don’t have an ego. I am a professional, but everyone makes mistakes from time to time. It makes no difference whether you are fat or thin or if you are unemployed. I care about the people around me — my boyfriend and my family. Whether I am in a sari or a bikini I am confident. I may look plump in a bikini and slim in a sari.
All this doesn’t matter to me.