London calling for Esha Gupta

IT’S A warm day and Eastern Eye is driving through the streets of London in a luxury chauffeur-driven car with talented actress Esha Gupta.

The star of super-hit film Rustom is enjoying the tranquility of a city that has almost become a second home for her. She has taken a break from a busy schedule in India to enjoy the delights of London including watching her favourite football team, Arsenal.

The actress is basking in the success of her most recent release and looking forward to more plum projects.

During the drive, Eastern Eye spoke to Gupta about Rustom, cinema, her adventurous spirit, qualities she admires in a man, inspirations and more. She lights up each question with her million dollar smile and infectious laughter.

You must be really happy with the success of Rustom?

Yes I am. We didn’t expect the success to be this big. We obviously hoped and wanted like everybody does for it to be a hit. I would be stupid to just say: ‘Oh, I just wanted critical acclaim’. No, we all want the money and the market to do well because that is when your film does well. The only thing that took me by surprise is that it has been loved as much as it has.

It had strong word-of-mouth publicity

Yes, that is something else I am really happy about. I felt it was going to be a good film and a hit but not have this big opening and strong word-of-mouth. So it’s cool the way audiences have have loved it.

What was the experience of playing a negative role in Rustom like?

It was pretty cool actually, but more than the villain; it was like that late 1950s vamp. I just think it was cool because most of the actresses are not willing to do that. I have got to make the best of what I have and thought it was a brilliant role. It’s one of those roles that I am not going to get offered often in my life, so it was either I refuse it or go with it and keep risking it all. I just went for it!

Your look in Rustom is incredible. I would give your lipstick in the film an Oscar…

(Laughs) My lipstick or the lips, Asjad?

The whole look is incredible…

In terms of the lips, I would like to thank Rekha Gupta. (Laughs) Thanks for the Oscar Rekha, and of course my mum for the genes. But in terms of the entire look, I have a great team of make-up artists and hairstylists. But the major credit goes to Tinu Desai, the director, because he was so particular about what lipstick, eyeliner, hair wig and nail polish should be used. If you see, I’ve got this little beauty spot here above my lip, but he wanted it to be highlighted. So the credit goes to him because he had that vision. He knew exactly what he wanted his character to look like.

What has been the most memorable compliment you have received for your performance in Rustom?

My dad told me after he saw my film that he thinks I am a good actor.

He didn’t say it earlier?

The thing is, in India, there is this saying where every mother thinks: “Their child is the most beautiful”. My dad being an Air Force guy is very blatant, and half the time won’t say want he is thinking when it comes to me. I am his son rather than his daughter. He just thinks he should tell me only the truth, even if there is no filter and it will hurt me. He just thinks that is the best thing to do, and honestly it is.

As a father, he just can’t keep pampering me and putting me on a platform, and be like: ‘You are the best’ because then I don’t have any scope to progress or make myself better. He really loved Raaz 3 and Chakravyuh as well, but after he saw this film, my dad called me at night and said I had acted really well and he was proud of me. That was the biggest thing for me possible!

You are in London. What keeps bringing you back to the city?

I think it is the best city in the world to be honest. If I have to move to any other place apart from India, it has to be London. I love the fashion, weather, food, people and everything. It is a fast-moving city and there is a lot to do. (Laughs)

And of course, Arsenal football club.

You are a huge Gunners fan. Where does that come from?

I think it was Thierry Henry. It all started from there. My dad used to follow football and told me about great players like Robert Pires and Henry. He showed me all the great players too. That is how I started. I was an athlete all my school life so my dad watched it and then I started following Arsenal too. That is when I realised: ‘Oh my God, I love Henry’. Then I discovered (Arsene)Wenger and the boss man took over.

What are your other passions apart from football and Arsenal?

When I’m not working and not in Mumbai, I am a little bit of an adrenaline junkie. I just take off on holidays where I can go sky-diving, skiing or scuba-diving, anything but bungee jumping. That is the only thing that scares me. Apart from that, everything because I have too much energy. You can keep me up for more than 72 hours and I will keep working; I have done that a lot. So for me to calm down, I put all my energy into doing these sports. I just did my third skydiving jump in Thailand.

Tell me about that.

I was so stressed. I had gone for some film, was going through some stress and didn’t know what to do. But then, when I got two days break, I drove outside Bangkok, did some skydiving and all was good. I said: ‘Let’s start working’. I also love reading a lot and dancing, but that happens anyway when I’m in Mumbai with my dance classes and pilates. I have now started rock climbing. I am more of a fitness enthusiast, but that is a lifestyle for me. I don’t know any other way but to have a healthy lifestyle.

What is the masterplan going forward?

Making the best of what I have. I don’t want to do things what everybody else is doing. Also, there are a lot of restrictions being an outsider. So I am picking up roles and scripts rather than actors and producers. I am not going for that, I am going for scripts. Even in Rustom, the script is the hero. The moment I heard the script and my character, I thought: ‘Hell yeah, I am doing the film’.

Even my next release Commando, which I have just finished, is an amazing film. It has a bit of action and everything. My film after that with (director) Milan Luthria (Baadshaho) is a period film, so it was about picking up good scripts. Now times are changing and people want to see that. People want to see films you will be remembered for.

It’s a good time for this as different films are being made…

Yes. There is this amazing film I saw recently called Fukrey; oh my god, it was so brilliant. Another is City Lights; when I saw it I thought: ‘Why am I not in this film?’ and Hansal Mehta’s other film Aligarh. It is the script which has the beauty.

Are you open to working outside India as well?

I am very much open to that because we are just global citizens, all of us. And if we are getting the opportunity, why not explore more and see where it takes us?

Which director would you love to work with?

I think working with Woody Allen would be really pretty cool. In India, it would be Mani Ratnam. I would love to do a film with him.

If you could be romanced by any leading man on screen, who would it be?

Ryan Gosling.

Everybody says that…

(Laughs) There is also Tom Hardy. Don’t worry. I have more in the list. I think Ryan Gosling is one of those – you know he is gonna romance you. You know he will fight with you, but will come back

and convince you.

What does a guy need to do to impress you?

(Laughs) Just show up! Apart from having a big personality, he needs to be a sports enthusiast for sure. I don’t understand men who don’t follow or play any sports. For someone like me, you need to

be adventurous. They need to smell good and be taller than me.

What inspires you?

Like the moment I landed at Heathrow airport and my driver didn’t know who I was. All he knew was that Arsenal has invited a few people, but when my best friend and I got out there were so many people who took my picture. That really inspires me. I want everyone to do it every time. I like the fact that I am followed and that someone who doesn’t know me personally knows my name. That is the biggest high one can get.

The other day we were shopping somewhere in London and popped into Pret to pick up some juices. The bill was no more than £15. A guy followed us and went to my friend and said: ‘Is that Esha Gupta? She said yeah and he paid the bill. I am looking, laughing and saying: ‘Let me pay’. He said no; all he wanted was a photograph. Just the fact that they all know me inspires me and why I keep doing what I do.

Finally, why do you love cinema?

I love cinema because we become immortal. No matter what, I will always be there.