Actors hi apne aap ko actually typecast karte hain: Esha Kansara

Written By: Harsh KashivEsha Kansara, who was recently seen in the Gujarati OTT show Kajodu, has been steadily building a space for herself through unconventional roles. The actress, known for her performances in D-Town films like 3 Ekka, Fakt Purusho Maate and Shubhchintak, and TV shows like Zindagi Mere Ghar Aana and Maddam Sir, talks about portraying grey characters, actors getting typecast, and more.‘Limited roles are written keeping female actors in mind’Esha says, “I have been telling my directors, ‘Please come to me for characters that, in your opinion, nobody else would be able to play.’ I get excited to play characters that are beyond one’s imagination. If you are a risk-taker, you might as well go all in. It is easier to take risks when you don’t know what lies ahead, because you are starting with a clean slate.”She adds, “When director Vishal bhai approached me for an OTT show, he said, ‘You are the only person who might be able to play this.’ That made me nervous, but it also got me really excited. As female actors, the kind of roles writers and directors usually imagine for us is quite limited. So, when I received a script like this, I told them, ‘Yeh mere alava koi nahi kar raha hai’ (laughs).”‘Actors hi apne aap ko actually typecast karte hain’

Talking about navigating her career between films, OTT and TV shows, she shares, “I feel actors hi apne aap ko actually typecast karte hain. We typecast ourselves far more than others do. Priorities and choices matter enormously. I have never limited myself to one medium. Jahan achcha character dikhega, I’ll do it. I’ve now developed the awareness to judge whether a story is worth telling. And agar aisa character humne pehle kiya hai, toh next time iss ko kaise differently kar sakte hain? I don’t think too much and trust my instinct.” ‘I sought constant validation earlier’As an actor, she believes “honesty is non-negotiable”, adding, “I don’t believe in being overly sweet with the people I work with. What is best for the project always comes first. I’m not concerned about being liked by everyone. Over time, I’ve made a conscious effort to ensure that at least my emotions remain honest, and I try to express them a little more gently.

When you want to be truly honest with someone, you also have to be mindful of the way you express that honesty.

” She also admits that her perspective on seeking validation has evolved over time. “Earlier, I was perhaps someone who looked for constant validation. But I now realise that if you have given your 200%, it will not go unnoticed. If you simply become the character, phir woh notice hoga hi,” she shares. ‘It’s a golden period for D-Town’ Having worked for 15 years across mediums, Esha is upbeat about the current phase of D-Town. She says, “It’s a golden period for the Gujarati film industry. As an actor, it is the attitude of ‘keep practising, keep learning’ that truly sustains you. Amitabh Bachchan sir ka toh golden period khatam hi nahi hua hai. He has consistently honed his craft and ensured a steady flow of work. I feel grateful that aise period mein bhi hum kaam kar rahe hain. Seeing the industry go to Cannes, being considered for National Awards— it motivates you further to reach out to new directors and producers for work. I am not actively searching for any particular character. I prefer waiting to see what directors and writers imagine or feel about me as an actor. That works better because when you start wishing for something too specific, you end up looking only for that, and if it does not come along, it can slow your momentum.

But I would really love to do a beautiful romantic drama. It has been a long time since I have been part of one.” ‘I am naturally very expressive’On her role in her new OTT show, Esha adds, “The real challenge was portraying her without giving away too much. I am naturally very expressive — my emotions are usually visible on my face — so maintaining an air of mystery was quite difficult for me.” Talking about portraying grey characters, she says, “It’s not really about complexity; it’s more about understanding how we function as human beings. I try to deeply explore the characters around mine too, because that’s what truly shapes your own character. I literally studied every other character and tried to understand the relationship my character shares with each one.”