Ever since her acting debut with Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe in 2002, Esha Deol had been very active in the 2000s. Every subsequent year saw multiple releases with her, but since 2011, the actor cut down on the number of projects she took up. Ask her why, and she admits it was to focus on her personal life.

“It was conscious on my part. I sort of wanted to settle down with Bharat (Takhtani, husband) and start a family. I fell in love and was enjoying that so much. Then I went the family way, and when your babies are young, everything requires your attention. You have to do the right things at the right time,” Deol shares.

That said, the 39-year-old also believes in the sentiment of “once an actor, always an actor”. She is all set to make her comeback with Ajay Devgn in his web debut, Rudra - The Edge Of Darkness. “Working again with Ajay is something I look forward to,” gushes the actor, who has shared screen space with him in movies such as Kaal (2005), Yuva (2004) and Main Aisa Hi Hoon (2005). “Ajay was very happy when he got to know about me coming on board, and told me he’s really glad I am back to work,” adds Deol.

She has also ventured into production with Ek Duaa, which was released directly on an OTT platform recently. She says the step towards turning a producer occurred naturally. “I was offered the script to act, but I was really moved by the story. I felt just acting in a film like this was not going to satisfy me. I thought ‘what if I could produce it’, and that’s how it happened,” she ends.