Ayesha Takia started off as a child artist and was seen in a number of ads. Soon, she became a popular face in the entertainment business, after she was selected to feature in Falguni Pathak’s Chunar Udd Jaye video. Ayesha was given recognition for her undoubtable charm onscreen, which later saw her through to mainstream Bollywood. She moved on to debuting in cinema in 2004, with Taarzan: The Wonder Car and went on to star in films like Socha Na Tha, Salaam-e-Ishq, Dor and Wanted.
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Ayesha distances from the movie business
Ayesha tied the knot with Farhan Azmi in 2009, after which she was hardly seen on the big screen. In an interview in 2011, she told TOI, “When I got married, a lot of people told me I was insane.” She, however, has no regrets and revealed it was a conscious decision to leave Bollywood.
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“I guess people can say that. One would think that I was not able to cash in on the success of Wanted but I never had any strategy or hidden formula for success. I have some of the best films to my name. I enjoy acting… I make the choices. I have never had a PR or a manager and have never been very media-savvy. I like to live my life in a particular way and do things that make me happy.” Her husband is a restaurateur and the son of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi.
Socha Na Tha…
Ayesha first met Farhan when she was 19. The duo started out as friends, but soon found themselves head over heels in love with each other. According to her, she never imagined she’d get married at the age of 23. Ayesha said in an interview with Rediff, “I never thought I would be married at 23, but that’s the fun thing about life – you don’t know what is waiting for you at the next corner. I have been lucky to be with Farhan. Before I got into films I would paint, read books and do a lot of things, but due to my acting commitments, they took a backseat. But now I am back to all of it and I love it.”
Speaking about venturing into business with Farhan and not quitting films to become a homemaker, Ayesha had said, “I think women who give attention to their family also do a commendable job. I don’t think it is easy to manage a family. Fortunately for me, Farhan has a business that I am also very keen on and I have been learning it and developing a lot of interest and now the businesswoman in me will always stay.”
Speaking about her hubby, she said, “He is humble, modest and very hard-working. He enjoys his business and has a flair for it. He knows how to be a great friend and more than that, a great husband.” Ayesha and Farhan were blessed with a baby boy in 2013.
Ayesha faced bullying in the industry and outside
A few years ago, Ayesha made headlines when netizens began to troll her after pictures of her suggesting a botched plastic surgery went viral. The photos showed Ayesha with enlarged lips which led to speculation around the actress going under the knife. Automatically, people assumed that was the reason she had to quit films.
In conversation with Indian Express, Ayesha clarified, “Online trolling and bullying has reached a new level, I guess. A handful of vicious people and gossip columns have decided to totally morph and distort my pics but the truth will prevail as I’m on social media every day and shooting/out and about. People can see what I really look like and luckily I have amazing followers on Instagram who I interact with daily, so they have not believed these lies and supported me all the way.”
Sharing her first-hand experience in the movie business, the 34-year-old recently said that she too, is one of the many who has had to battle bullying in the Indian Film Industry. Urging those who have been through the same, she said, “Having personally been through many incidents of trolling and workplace bullying. I wish to spread the word about this and I want you to speak up, please, if someone is making you feel less, small or worthless.”
She continued, “Please know that you are incredible and unique. You are meant to be here and fight for what you deserve. You are bright and different, you must not let them win. Please speak to someone. Reach out. We need this world to be a kind place for our future generations and for their sake we must make sure that love and kindness lead the way. Pls be nice to people, be kind and sensitive because you have no idea how fragile or what hardship someone is going through.”
Lead Image credit: Via YouTube and TOI
