Esha takes on the naxals

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Esha Gupta is elated about working with celebrated director Prakash Jha for Chakravyuh. Stating that it was an amazing experience, she says, “No sooner did I get the offer, I consulted Mahesh Bhatt.

He was instrumental in helping me get the role. He also told me that Prakash Sir was a brilliant director. Initially I was very scared of him. He hardly talks. But whenever I would get a call on my cell and see his name on the screen, I would sit up straight. He is an amazing director and is very clear about what he requires from his actors.
About her shooting experience, she says, “I do not think any actor is ever satisfied with one take. A second take brings some amount of satisfaction to the actors. We had read the script many times so there was no question of getting confused. Also, Prakash Sir would prepare us much before the scenes were really canned. He is a hard task master so he makes the minutest things clear before we face the camera.”
“I am lucky that he never yelled at me. And if he may have shouted at some point of time, it was at an inevitable stage. Obviously, canning scenes with more than 300-400 extras (acting as Naxalites), and then with so many cops around, everything can’t run smooth. Things are bound to go haywire,” says the actor who plays a cop in the film.
Esha, of course, took her role very seriously. “Preparing for a character of a cop was not tough. I have come from Delhi to make it big in performing arts. Hence it is my duty to do my job perfectly. It makes no difference if I need to drape a sari or dress like a cop. I had to do a few stunts like flying choppers and fire a gun. With practice I passed all of them with flying colours,” she says.
The actor took inspiration from top cop Kiran Bedi for the role. “I have watched her perform all her duties, that of a mother, a wife and a cop, efficiently. She is a woman who may be wearing ‘mehndi’ on her palm but when it comes to picking up a gun and bringing wrongdoers to books, she does that without hesitation. In the film there is a fight between the Naxalites and the cops; it is a fight between the law and wrongdoers. Bearing this in mind, I gave my performance in (police) uniform,” she says.
Esha says she learnt a lot from her co-stars and had a lot of fun in the process. Arjun (Rampal) and I gelled well. We would discuss so many things while sharing our meals together. He advised me and gave important tips. If I messed up learning my lines, Arjun and Abhay (Deol) helped me a lot. Having worked with Emraan Hashmi previously was also a great experience. All my co-actors have helped me at all times.”
About the man of her dreams, Esha says, “I would like a man to be as sexy as my dad. Also he should be chivalrous with a great deal of humour. Witty men can never bore one to death. A relationship with a witty man becomes sounder. Also, he should not be too possessive. He surely needs to give me space and respect. I do n’t really care for a rich guy, but yes, he should be able to provide for my basic needs. And from my end what more can I give a man? He will have all of me.”