#Interview: Esha Gupta on Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and nepotism in Bollywood

Esha Gupta is currently in Jaisalmer shooting for Baadshaho with Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi. The actress, who is gearing up for the release of Commando 2 believes that her character has an element of thrill in the film, which has been purposely kept under wraps.

Gupta got candid with us prior to the film release wherein she confessed that it is her dream to be a part of an out an out female-centric action film like Kill Bill.

Excerpts from the interview:

What is your character in an action film like Commando 2?

I am giving beauty to the film. Vidyut is doing all the action in the film, but every action film needs some sort of beauty, so I am doing my bit to add beauty in the film. Vidyut is a good looking beast and I am the beauty. On a serious note, there is an element of thrill in my character which we have kept under wraps. You would discover it while watching the film.

Do you think Commando 2 will raise the bar for action in Bollywood?

Vidyut is doing what he does that best. He has done all the stunts himself and it is lovely to watch him live performing all those action. In my opinion, we have indeed taken it to the next level.

Which is one film genre you would love to act in?

I would love to do an out and out action film because I have an athlete like body type. I am very strong and I know that I can do good action. I would love to do a film like a Kill Bill, and I hope I am offered one soon.

Do you think this is the best time to be in Bollywood film industry?

Apart from the industry insiders, people are also now giving a lot of chance to the outsiders which make this the best time to be in the industry.

Do you think the Indian film audience have evolved over a period of time?

One guy who deserves the credit for change in the taste of Indian audiences and introducing them to new kind of cinema is Akshay Kumar. He is not doing the films that have a lot of heroism to offer. He has done films like Airlift and Rustom wherein he didn’t play the conventional Hindi film hero. Apart from Akshay, the credit also goes to the directors’ who thought of casting him in such films.

How has it working with Ajay Devgn in Baadshaho?

Working with Ajay Devgn has always been on my list. He has delivered some phenomenal performances in films like Bhagat Singh, Zakhm, Diljale amongst many others. He is one actor whose eyes are so intense, but trust me on sets he is not at all an intense guy. I was so scared of him but then within two days I was like ‘They are lovely people.’

Was his presence intimidating?

Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar play pranks on the sets to make the artists feel comfortable. They are such senior actors that their presence can of course be intimidating. I was scared of both the actors initially but now I can proudly say that they are my buddies.

Why don’t we see you often in films?

I don’t have any father or god-father in the industry, so I have to wait to sign the right scripts. I don’t have anyone relation with film industry nor am I in a relation with some person within the industry. So I have to choose my scripts well.

Is it difficult being an outsider in Bollywood?

It is very difficult to be an outsider in the industry. I have heard industry insiders say, ‘Even we had to struggle’ but they don’t realise that they had a driver to drop them for auditions and they don’t have to pay for a rent or look after their family. As an outsider, we have to go through all these problems. As insiders they don’t have to think about how to manage money, but we have to. Nepotism is to another level in this industry and that’s the reason why outsiders are stronger than the insiders. They have to face challenges in their career. In-fact, they are more humble as well. Be it Akshay, Kangana or any other person, they have worked hard to be in the place they are at today.