With her dream girl looks she could just light up the screen. Esha Deol daughter superstars Hema and Dharmendra, is all set make her debut with KMDSP a thriller that should the audience on the edge of their seats. In fact Esha was looking forward to the release of the film in December last year. ‘At least I could have been nominated for the Best Debut award. Now I’ll have to wait for the whole year for the awards to be announced,” she cribs. But Esha is happy that she is finally doing what has made her family a proud-act!

How was it shooting for your debut film Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche (KMDSP)?
Wonderful! It was an enriching experience and for a newcomer I really learnt a lot!

What is your role in the film?
I play Esha a girl with a traumatic past! She behaves in an unusual manner unlike the girls her age. What her past is one gets to know only towards the climax. There’s a twist. Now don’t ask me what it is all about. You must see the film if you want to know (laughs). The audience may feel why is this girl behaving like this? They will sympathise with the character only after the interval when the truth is revealed.

You come from a family that has been in films for over two decades. Your brothers Sunny and Bobby are name to reckon with. So did the mantle of expectations weigh heavily on your shoulders?
I have never thought about the family that I come from when I decided to take up acting as a career. It was just another girl making a career decision. But now since you mentioned it I need to seriously think about it (laughs).

You must’ve been on the sets with your mother Hemaji. Were things in anyway different from what you had seen then?
Not really! I knew more or less how the film industry functions. I knew these things I would have to be well versed with while some things I could afford to ignore.

Was it tough to convince your parents to allow you to act?
Yes! My mom warned me about the hardships one would have to go through to gain a foothold in the industry. I was more than prepared for it. I told mom this is what I wanted to do. I told her that it was her job to convince dad to allow me to act (laughs). It was a bit difficult but he finally relented.

People usually are under the impression that the industry is one glamorous place to be in but isn’t. Do you agree?
Yeah! It is one place where you have to work hard. You have to put on heavy make-up and shoot studios that are without air-condition! The shot takes hours to get ready. You have to rehearse. And till you don’t get it right you have to give takes over and over again. Now I know what my mother meant when she said that I knew what I was getting into. I’m here for good!

Did you take any formal training in acting?
Yes I did! I joined Kishore Namit’s classes for acting. I learnt my Hindi diction that I’m very bad at from Veena Mehta. Since I had learnt Odissi Nritya in childhood I didn’t have to take any dancing classes. And whether it be Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi once you are well versed with any of them you become an expert in dance rhythms and taals. I love to dance!

Didn’t Dharmendraji want to launch you it under his banner?
Boney Kapoor and Sri aunty had asked mom if they could launch me in their film. And mom willingly agreed. The subject of the film was good. It centred around me! And what more could a newcomer ask for. My face has been splashed in all the hoardings of the city. Sometimes I feel I don’t deserve this. I’m happy go lucky to have had this kind of debut. You know Sri aunty’s daughter Jhanvi refers to me as her elder sister. She has immense affection for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better film seriously!

How was it working with Jayaji?
I remember the first time I met her. We had to do a photoshoot for the film. I had to place my arms around her. And I was shivering like a leaf. “What’s wrong?” she asked me. I told her about my nervousness and she bursts out laughing telling me to take it easy. From then on she always took care of me on the sets. She’d feed me with chocolates because she knew I love them. Even during outdoor locations; I feel homesick very easily; but with her around I felt less homesick. It is my fortune that I got to work with a senior artiste like her.

Which foreign locations have you shot the film in?
We went to New Zealand! It’s a very beautiful place. The only thing I wanted to do was shop, shop and shop. I remember there was scene where Aftab’s trousers weren’t fitting him well. He had to go to buy a new one for the shoot. I asked the unit members if I could also go with him. When I returned they were surprised to see six-seven bags of clothes and chocolates. How I enjoyed shopping that time.

How serious are you about your make-up and dress sense?
Very serious! I really think about the clothes that I need to create the get up I should have for a particular film. Rocky S my designer helps me with it. His choice and my taste often match so I trust him completely where my clothes in the film are concerned. Few know but I have also learnt the art of make-up and how to style your hair. I often cut my hair myself. I have been interested in it since childhood. Even during my school I was heavily into painting and arts and crafts.

I think two actresses to have made impact in 2000 are you and Kareena. I believe both of you are great friends…
Yes! And we talk about those things that usually girls our age talk about. She has already passed the phase where she’d have to bite her nails before the release of her film. I’m going through that right now (laughs).

Forthcoming films…
Na Tum Jano Na Hum with Hrithik Roshan and there other two films with Tusshar.