Esha Deol On Working With Mani Ratnam, Wearing No Makeup & More; Say ‘One Of The Best Films In My Career’

Esha, Yuva completes 21 years, fond memories?

Yuva was actually offered to me in Hindi and Tamil/ Mani sir had first offered me the Tamil version, Aayutha Ezhuthu. And I remember Shaad Ali, he came home and I was doing my dance rehearsals in a simple cotton salwar kurta and he’s like, this is it, this is it, this is what he wants. I said, who, what? Shaad and I have been good friends for very long, you know. So I said, what do you mean? So he’s like,Mani sir is making a film, it’s a Tamil film and this is the look.And I was sweating in my simple cotton salwar-kurta. I said, this is what he wants? Shaad said, yeah, yeah, no makeup, nothing.

That’s how you became a part of Yuva?

I was very excited hearing Mani sir’s name. And then I remember meeting him in Chennai and, you know, we worked a bit on my Tamil because the Tamil that he wanted for the film was a little different than the Tamil I speak. So, you know, that’s how we started working together. And we shot the entire Tamil version.

What was it like working with Mani? How did he offer you the Hindi version?

It was always, you know, early morning shoots because he loves the magic hour. And suddenly he just looked at me and he’s like, E.D. I mean, you know, a lot of people in the industry call me E.D. E.D. is Esha Deol. And he’s like, E.D., will you do Yuva, the Hindi version? And I was like, I couldn’t believe my ears, you know, I was so happy and I was so excited.

You said yes?

What do you think any sane actor would say? I said, of course, I’ll do it. And then simultaneously, we started shooting for the Hindi version with Ajay Devgan. That was my first film with Ajay also.

So two films with the magical Mani?

Just working with Mani sir, he’s such a wonderful, wonderful director. He’s an institute in himself and the natural performances that he brings out in each actor. I mean, he’s magic. And, you know, I simply loved every moment on set. And I think I was really lucky to get to work with him in two films back-to-back, the Tamil version and the Hindi version.

I believe all the three leading ladies you, Rani and Kareena had to follow the no-makeup policy?

Yes, Ravi Chandran, our DOP, would make sure that we didn’t have any makeup on our face. So this was one film which was a complete no makeup look. And he made us look so beautiful and natural. And I mean, you know, that scrubbed innocent look, it was just fantastic.

Is Yuva the film you would want your daughters to watch?

This is definitely one of the best films in my career. And of course, a film like this is something that I would want my daughters to watch. And they have watched the songs.