Deepika Padukone
This isn’t a casting choice I thought up, I have seen this suggestion floating around the internet for a while. Deepika Padukone is a Bollywood actress that has been on the scene since about 2007 with her first major hit Om Shanti Om 
Deepika Padukone as Shanti Priya from Om Shanti Om
I would say yes. Padukone is a decent actress. I saw her in Om Shanti Om a few years ago, and I really enjoyed that movie. For this post I tried watching Chennai Express, which I loathed. It wasn’t Padukone’s fault, that film was under the impression that references to other Bollywood films is funny, and yes it can be but they did it way too much. Plus it just a bad movie but the references were beyond painful. Anyway, I think Padukone could pull Esmeralda off an acting level, I mean pending on the intent of the film, Esmeralda isn’t the deepest character.
Deepika Padukone
She also has a decent look for Esmeralda but only if they don’t go with her original back story. Padukone is known as a beauty in Bollywood which helps Esmeralda as she is suppose to be very beautiful. Also as a Bollywood actress she can dance, so another plus.
Deepika Padukone
All in all, I think Deepika Padukone would be a solid choice for the role. Would she be greatest Esmeralda ever? Can’t say but she would be a decent casting choice.
What do you think?
Know who would make a nice Esmeralda… Emanuelle Chriqui, she’s beautiful, talented and even being a little old she looks young. Plus, she is tanned and got beautiful dark eyes. Google her and you see I am right.
I have seen Emanuelle Chriqui in You don’t mess with the Zohan and I agree she would make a lovely Esmeralda.
Oh, I believe a good Frollo would be Jeremy Northam, who portrayed Tomas More on Tudors. He’s a good actor and he has Frollo’s look. Sorry for my bad english, french girl here.
I think she’s really pretty. I believe she can pull of Esmeralda even with the backstory, Esmeralda was believed to be a gypsy, so she certanly had the looks of one, which can be apllied to this actress. What if Esmeralda’s unknow fathar was a Romani, then she would have his looks. The father being unknow, I believe this actress could be Esme with backstory and all. Also, I found a Instagram page of a bellydancer that the moment I saw I thought she would make a beautiful Esmeralda, and she dances!
Fair point. Details of Esmeralda’s father are not given in the book so it’s possible for Esmeralda to at least be half Romani.
Yeah, I haven’t thought of it, but it’s true, even if she wasn’t half romani, she had to look exotic, come think of it, a white girl, no matter if tanned and dark haired, wouldn’t pass as easily as a gypsy, there were lot of tanned peasants back on that time, seeing her mother was a prostitute it was easy for her father to be a gypsy.