“Casting couch happens in almost every industry” – Esha Gupta

Who doesn’t want to be rich and famous? Who doesn’t like to be in the spotlight? Who doesn’t want to be known globally? Well, Esha Gupta is all of that, Read More">but with a difference. She is someone who is all set to achieve all of the above… but all on her own merits. She hasRead More

Who doesn't want to be rich and famous? Who doesn't like to be in the spotlight? Who doesn't want to be known globally? Well, Esha Gupta is all of that, but with a difference. She is someone who is all set to achieve all of the above... but all on her own merits. She has really worked her way hard, harder, hardest to reach the position that she is in and will be in the years to come.

After having made her presence felt as the hottest model, courtesy, the prestigious Kingfisher calendar, she is now all set to make a splash in Bollywood with her debut film Jannat 2, which stars Emraan Hashmi and Randeep Hooda. Satish Sundaresan of Bollywood Hungama caught up with this hottie par excellence for an exclusive interview. Here are the excerpts:

Esha, instead of wasting time beating around the bush, let me hit the nail on its head by asking you a straight question that... are you the reason for the sun to suffer from an inferiority complex?
(Laughs) Oh My God! It's such a huge compliment! I do wish that looking at me, the sun should get an inferiority complex! By the way, do you feel that I am that hot?

Coming back to business... How did modelling happen in the first place?
I was preparing myself to do my education in mass communication, journalism and law. That's when my mother told me to fill in the entry for the Miss India competition. Honestly speaking, I wasn't confident of being selected at all! As luck would have it, I got selected and as they say...there was no looking back after that.

What's your parental background?
My dad comes from Air Force (Wing Commander). We didn't travel much though, but we had a fun life. I always looked and still look upto him for anything and everything. My mother's runs an organization that works for the underprivileged. And my sister is a designer.

Esha, you seemed to have made it in Bollywood without a proverbial Godfather, something that's considered a 'pre-requisite'. Do you consider yourself plain, simple lucky?
I am one of those who think that success is 50 % hard work and talent and the rest 50% is pure luck. I took my own sweet time to reach the place where I am today. I don't have the proverbial Godfathers and Godmothers... Luckily, I have had good people who have guided and guarded me to reach this place! As you rightly said, in a way, I feel that I was plain, simple lucky to have not met any 'such' kind of people!

Where will we find Esha Gupta shopping more: Paris or Fashion Street? Fashion Street! What do you do in your free time? Just relax and meet people, and chill with them! I hate living in a bubble! What does it take get a flawless face like yours that’s launched a million ships? Simply put, Read More">IRead More

Where will we find Esha Gupta shopping more: Paris or Fashion Street?
Fashion Street!

What do you do in your free time?
Just relax and meet people, and chill with them! I hate living in a bubble!

What does it take get a flawless face like yours that's launched a million ships?
Simply put, I am just blessed with a beautiful skin, all thanks to my mother! I avoid smoking and drinking and even partying! I work out a lot as it cleanses your whole body!

Are you a gadget and gizmo kind of person?
I am technologically so backward!

Are you addicted to any of the networking sites?
Not at all!

What do you feel is the flip side of being a celebrity?
Stuffing my mouth with pani puri in a public place!

Lastly, what's the one secret that no one knows about you?
I just don't like fake people! I hate when people try to be pally-pally with me, without knowing me at all!

Will you be game to do an item number so early in you career? Look at the films these days! The item numbers are being carried out so gracefully by the Deepikas, Katrinas and Malaika Aroras. If you look at them, Read More">they are so very beautiful and mind-blowing! If I get to do an itemRead More

Will you be game to do an item number so early in you career?
Look at the films these days! The item numbers are being carried out so gracefully by the Deepikas, Katrinas and Malaika Aroras. If you look at them, they are so very beautiful and mind-blowing! If I get to do an item number in the same league, I will surely go for it. At the same time, doing item numbers is surely not my mainstay, as I am majorly concentrating on making my career as an actress!

Bollywood is a place wherein anything is possible for publicity. There have been many recent instances wherein magazines publish steamy or topless snaps of actresses, which the actresses totally deny having shot for! What will you do in such a situation?
Being the simple person that I am, I keep myself very much away from any kind of cheap publicity. I want my work to speak for itself. I have already done topless shoots (for Kingfisher) and some bikini shoots for prestigious magazines. If people were to bring that up, I don't think that I will ever deny it. But if it's something that has been tampered with or has been photoshopped, I will not think twice before dragging that person/s to court!

Being a newcomer, what's your take on the clichéd issue of casting couch? Have you ever faced such a situation?
I was a bit scared of the very thought initially. But, thanks to God and good luck, I never faced it! I am lucky to have come across the right set of people. And as far as casting couch is concerned, I feel its both sided. Also, why just single out Bollywood alone! The concept of casting couch happens in almost every industry!

You went topless for the famous Kingfisher calendar. Will you do a film that requires you to go topless? Honestly speaking, it all depends on the script’s requirement. If I were to play a mother/ housewife and suddenly, I am shown topless or taking a fancy shower, Read More">I don’t think I will do it asRead More

You went topless for the famous Kingfisher calendar. Will you do a film that requires you to go topless?
Honestly speaking, it all depends on the script's requirement. If I were to play a mother/ housewife and suddenly, I am shown topless or taking a fancy shower, I don't think I will do it as I fail to see any relation in it. I am sensible enough to read the script and judge the requirements of the scenes. I will never do any such thing to attract audience!

How did your parents react when they got to know about the topless shoot?
My parents are very broadminded in that way. They understand the very fact that I didn't do a topless shoot for a local company's outdoor hoarding. It was done for the prestigious Kingfisher calendar at the end of the day! As a model, that's the highest peak anyone can reach! And my parents and myself are really proud to say that I have been there, done that!

How does it feel when people compare you to yet another hottie Angelina Jolie?
It really feels good. But I would be happy if they call Angelina Jolie as the international version of Esha Gupta! (laughs)

In the same breath, have you found the Brad Pitt of your life?
I would rather not talk about my personal life, as I want to talk only about my films and my career ahead as an actress!

How was the screen test for the film? Were you excited or nervous? There was one particular scene (from the film) which Kunal wanted me to rehearse it my way. And since I did not know anything about the character, Read More">I did it my way…which is exactly what Kunal liked. What was the first reactionRead More

How was the screen test for the film? Were you excited or nervous?
There was one particular scene (from the film) which Kunal wanted me to rehearse it my way. And since I did not know anything about the character, I did it my way...which is exactly what Kunal liked.

What was the first reaction when you got to know the news that you have been finalized as the lead heroine in Jannat 2, wherein Prachi Desai and Paoli Dam were considered as the lead?
The feeling is yet to sink in. I am nervous and excited at the same time! To get a big break in a Bhatt's film is any girl's dream come true. I just didn't think twice before saying yes to this film.

How was your working experience with Emran Hashmi and Mahesh Bhatt?
Anybody who has worked with Emraan will vouch for the fact that Emraan is simply amazing and a wonderful guy to work with. As I said, he always gave me pointers and tips to better my performances. As far as Mahesh Bhatt is concerned, having his hand on your head is indeed a blessing of the highest order. Many people get intimated by him, but, since I come from an Air Force background, nothing can scare me anymore! Mahesh Bhatt is really a fatherly figure to me.

Looking back, what happened to the film with Upen Patel, which was supposed to be your launch pad?
That film was never supposed to happen at all! I just did a test shoot for them and after that, I went back to Delhi. The next thing that I 'got to know' was that I was doing that film! Tell me, how weird can it get! I really have no clue where all this originated from! We never signed the contract at all.