It’s been 18 years since Ram Gopal Varma’s Darling hit the screens, and Esha Deol still fondly remembers the experience. The actress, who played a quirky negative role in the film, looks back at working with Ramu, sharing screen space with Fardeen Khan and Isha Koppikar, and why she had an absolute blast playing a ghost.
You were so much fun to watch in Ram Gopal Varma’s Darling?
One of the films I’ve had most fun playing a negative role. Specially taking revenge but in a slightly humorous way.
How did you and Ramu get together?
Working with Ram Gopal Varmaji then was an absolute treat. He just observed me in our first meeting and surprisingly picked up so much when it came to certain mannerisms I did that he made me use it in the character. He just let me be and brought out a powerful performance. I remember doing one tough monologue, but it just felt like a flow.
It couldn’t be easy playing a ghost?
Ramuji like let me just be free in front of the camera, no body language, no workshop, just spontaneous. The way I like to work. Thank God there were no workshops back then, coz for some of us it just kills that spontaneous spark.
How did Fardeen Khan and you get along?
Fardeen in this film did get a lot of whacks from me, and I remember apologising to him after every shot. You see, my character had to be mean to him a lot in the film. In reality, he is one of my closest buddies. But we had a great time doing this film. And I loved the song Tadap Tadap. Though Isha and I had little shared screen time, she was a sweetheart on set. I just had a blast doing such a role. I remember your review even today where you had praised me a lot.
Do you believe in ghosts?
Hahaha, I believe in angels.
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